Planning application
Basement And Ground Floor Chocolate Factory 53 Southwark Street London Southwark SE1 1RU
Works: Extension Demolition Windows or glazing
Still open. Anyone can comment while the consultation period runs, and comments go to the council rather than to us.
Proposal
Listed building consent for the internal and external alterations to the ground and basement levels of the Grade II listed Menier Chocolate Factory, 53 Southwark Street, to enable a restaurant and bar fit-out. External works comprise: Installation of two illuminated hanging signs and reinstated hand-painted fascia signage. Formation of a 350 x 350 mm powder-coated air-intake grille within the contemporary brick infill to the west elevation. Enclosure of the south-east lightwell with a new flat roof to form a storage room. Creation of a screened rear-terrace service area incorporating three Toshiba condensers on plinths behind a timber screen, together with associated refuse storage. Internal works include: Replacement of existing kitchen equipment and creation of a new open kitchen. Installation of new ventilation, extract, and air-conditioning systems. Installation of new vestibule doors. Bar joinery with wine fridges and shelving, a low wall enclosing the existing stair balustrade, and local ductwork boxing Joinery and finishes throughout, including painted walls and ceilings. Installation of decorative metal tiled ceiling panels to the basement. Addition of a new handrail to the basement stair. Reconfiguration and implementation of fire escape strategy, including escape routes. Installation of new lighting, data, security, and power systems. Relocation of existing electrical meters and boards, and addition of new fire-rated glazed screens. Retention, repair, and relocation of heritage assets including Dennison Kett & Co rolling shutters, brass floor wear plates, and two ornate floor lamps. Minor service penetrations are minimised and contained within the same wall or room to reduce impact on historic fabric. All interventions are localised and, where practicable, reversible. No demolition of principal listed fabric is proposed.
As published by the council, reference 25/AP/2496
Application record
- Reference
- 25/AP/2496
- Type
- Listed Building Consent
- Status
- Under consideration/assessment
- Received
- 1 Sep 2025
- Validated
- 2 Sep 2025
- Ward
- Borough & Bankside
- Parish
- Borough, Bankside And Walworth
- Postcode
- SE1 1RU
Site history
Applications at this address on the Southwark register
This site has had 3 applications since 2025.
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25/AP/2497 Awaiting decision
Basement And Ground Floor Chocolate Factory 53 Southwark Street London Southwark SE1 1RU
Display of two illuminated projecting signs, one illuminated menu box, and one hand-painted fascia sign to the Southwark Street frontage of the Menier Chocolate Factory. Projecting signs: One to the north elevation (retaining the existing bracket) and one to the west elevation (new bracket to match). Each is a circular 600mm diameter sign formed of 3mm stainless steel plate with a rolled 16mm stainless steel frame, finished satin black. Decorative gold-painted vine tendrils and eight forged three-dimensional vine leaves are set within the frame, with 50mm gold vinyl lettering applied. The signs are suspended from wall-mounted steel brackets with chain and strap fixings. Each bracket incorporates downward-facing LED lighting (610mm long, warm white 3000K, max. 299 cd/m?, 1650 lumens/m) aimed to illuminate the sign face. The underside of the signs is set 2.28m above pavement level. Fascia sign: Hand-painted lettering directly applied to the entablature above the main entrance. Letters are applied in consistent font, kerning and spacing, with no relief or illumination. Illuminated Menu Box (Adjacent to Ground Floor Entrance) Form and dimensions: A brass A4 menu box (397 x 310 x 50 mm). Fixing and support: Mounted adjacent to the main entrance. Fixings made into mortar joints only. Power cable fixed discreetly within mortar joints, colour-matched to adjacent mortar, and routed through the adjacent contemporary timber window frame to minimise impact on historic fabric. Illumination: Internally lit with warm white LED, providing subtle legibility without visual intrusion
-
25/AP/2495 Awaiting decision
Basement And Ground Floor Chocolate Factory 53 Southwark Street London Southwark SE1 1RU
External alterations to enable a restaurant and wine bar fit-out.
Timeline
Dates from the published record
-
1 Sep 2025
Received by Southwark
-
2 Sep 2025
Validated
Checked as complete and ready for consideration.
-
10 Aug 2026
Added to PlanIndex
-
Decision
Awaiting decision
Decision expected by 28 October 2025, 8 weeks from validation under the statutory target for most applications. Extensions of time are common and are agreed case by case.
Southwark took a median of 52 days over the applications it decided in the last year.
Who's behind it
Company information only, from the register and Companies House
Hildrey Studio Agent, registered in London
Active · incorporated 2018 · London
5 applications on PlanIndex · across 2 councils
Trade members see everything this firm has filed, how it was decided, and get an email the day it files again.
See their track recordDocuments
Plans, drawings, consultee responses and the officer's report
69 documents on file for this application
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Open the documentsWhat happens while it is decided
This application is with Southwark for determination, against a statutory target of eight weeks. Over the last year Southwark decided heritage and listed building applications in a median of 65 days. More in our guide to how long planning decisions take.
About heritage and listed building applications
Listed building consent is needed for works that affect the special interest of a listed building, and carrying out such works without it is a criminal offence. More in our guide to planning application types.
Nearby applications
Within 0.3 miles
-
Basement And Ground Floor Chocolate Factory 53 Southwark Street London Southwark SE1 1RU
92% historically approved · decision due ~28 Oct
Display of two illuminated projecting signs, one illuminated menu box, and one hand-painted fascia sign to the Southwark Street frontage of the Menier Chocolate Factory. Projecting signs: One to the north elevation (retaining the existing bracket) and one to the west elevation (new bracket to match). Each is a circular 600mm diameter sign formed of 3mm stainless steel plate with a rolled 16mm stainless steel frame, finished satin black. Decorative gold-painted vine tendrils and eight forged three-dimensional vine leaves are set within the frame, with 50mm gold vinyl lettering applied. The signs are suspended from wall-mounted steel brackets with chain and strap fixings. Each bracket incorporates downward-facing LED lighting (610mm long, warm white 3000K, max. 299 cd/m?, 1650 lumens/m) aimed to illuminate the sign face. The underside of the signs is set 2.28m above pavement level. Fascia sign: Hand-painted lettering directly applied to the entablature above the main entrance. Letters are applied in consistent font, kerning and spacing, with no relief or illumination. Illuminated Menu Box (Adjacent to Ground Floor Entrance) Form and dimensions: A brass A4 menu box (397 x 310 x 50 mm). Fixing and support: Mounted adjacent to the main entrance. Fixings made into mortar joints only. Power cable fixed discreetly within mortar joints, colour-matched to adjacent mortar, and routed through the adjacent contemporary timber window frame to minimise impact on historic fabric. Illumination: Internally lit with warm white LED, providing subtle legibility without visual intrusion
Awaiting decision Advertising Windows or glazing 8 docs -
Basement And Ground Floor Chocolate Factory 53 Southwark Street London Southwark SE1 1RU
90% historically approved · decision due ~28 Oct
External alterations to enable a restaurant and wine bar fit-out.
Awaiting decision Full applications 72 docs -
51 Southwark Street London Southwark SE1 1RU
Listed building consent for fit-out of vacant ground floor listed building unit for cafe/deli use, including internal partitions, counters, WCs, kitchen/prep areas, fixed joinery and associated services.
Granted -
51 Southwark Street London Southwark SE1 1RU
95% historically approved · decision due ~23 Sep
Display of two proposed signs associated with the proposed café/deli use: one fascia sign above the principal entrance and one projecting hanging sign mounted perpendicular to the building facade
Awaiting decision -
53 Southwark Street London Southwark SE1 1RU
Demolition of existing internal stairs with new and adjustments to the stair core on the fourth floor. Replacement of lift with new to extend to the fourth floor. Modern partitions replaced with new to create meeting rooms, toilets, risers, and storage areas. New floors and ceiling finishes. Internal openings in communal areas to be enlarged to accommodate new doors. Replacement of the doors to the rear elevation and removal of existing modern window and wall section on first floor for new door to fire escape stair. Secondary glazing to rear elevation windows and external loading doors. The first floor glass roof to be removed and replaced with a solid roof. Changes to the approved rear fire escape stair and landings including extension to the First floor. Replacement of pavement lights. First-floor terrace plant enclosure extended to accommodate new plant. Adjustments to terraces on the first floor and roof. Replacement of the roof access dormer, new skylights and warm roof build-up with like for like finish. Making good of the existing external lighting and addition of external lighting to entrance, fire escape and terraces.
Granted Heritage and listed buildings Extension Loft or dormer +3 72 docs -
53 Southwark Street London Southwark SE1 1RU
Improvements to the listed building to bring it up to standard for continued use as Offices and Businesses includes the following: -Replacement of existing internal stairs with new and adjustments to the stair core on the fourth floor. -Replacement of lift with new to extend to the fourth floor. -Replacement of the doors to the rear elevation and removal of existing modern window and wall section on first floor for new door to fire escape stair.-First floor glass roof to be removed and replaced with a solid roof.-Changes to the approved rear fire escape stair and landings including extension to the First floor.-Replacement of pavement lights.-First-floor terrace plant enclosure extended to accommodate new plant.-Adjustments to terraces on the first floor and roof.-Replacement of the roof access dormer, new skylights and warm roof build-up with like for like finish. Making good of the existing external lighting and addition of external lighting to entrance, fire escape and terraces.
Granted Full applications Extension Loft or dormer +2 91 docs
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