Grosvenor and Westminster City Council announce groundbreaking Listed Building Consent Order for Eaton Square, supported by DIA.

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Eaton Square, London’s largest residential square, is set to benefit from a Listed Building Consent Order (LBCO) – the first ever to be awarded by Westminster City Council. Donald Insall Associates was conservation architect and heritage consultant supporting Grosvenor, Westminster and the sustainability team at Buro Happold on the detail of the order.

Announced by Grosvenor and Westminster City Council, the implementation of an LBCO at the Belgravia site is designed to make it easier for residents to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Providing blanket listed building consent for a defined set of retrofit measures – including window improvements, awnings, and the
installation of solar panels – the LBCO will mean residents will no longer need to submit individual applications to carry out qualifying works.

Eaton Square, originally laid out by Grosvenor in the 1820s, contains 118 listed former town houses, now mostly converted to flats, spanning both Grade II and II*-listed status. With over 3,500 windows across the site, the LBCO will make energy efficiency improvements significantly easier and quicker to implement for residents.

In total, the measures enabled by the LBCO are estimated to cut carbon emissions by up to 19% and help residents reduce annual consumption by up to 13%. They will also improve thermal comfort, safeguard heritage features and increase long-term climate resilience.

Tor Burrows, Chief Sustainability Officer at Grosvenor said:

“We know the heritage planning system can feel daunting for households. By working with Westminster City Council to bring forward this LBCO, we are simplifying a complex process and giving residents the confidence to make sensitive improvements that cut will reduce emissions, improve comfort and help ensure this magnificent square plays its part in a low carbon future.”

Cllr Geoff Barraclough, Westminster City Council Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, said:

“Eaton Square is one of Westminster’s most famous historic squares, and we want to make sure it can meet the challenges of the future as well as preserve its past. This Listed Building Consent Order will make it much easier for residents to improve the energy efficiency of their homes while protecting the character of this historic part of the city. By working with Grosvenor we are cutting unnecessary red tape and helping residents use less energy.”