Planning applications system back online following cyber-attack
Following the cyber-attack in November 2025, Kensington & Chelsea says its planning applications system is back online. After the attack, its systems were isolated “to keep them safe,” the council says, adding that it “had a major impact” on its planning services. It made the council unable to process or determine applications or complete local land charge searches.
Following advice from cyber security experts, the Met Police, and the National Cyber Security Centre, the council “confirmed that the threat has been contained” and it is “now taking action to strengthen the security of each of [its] systems,” enabling it to “switch them back on, on a phased basis.” The planning applications system has been switched back on as of Monday 9th March 2026, with officers working through a backlog of around 1,700 applications. Land searchers are also live, with around 600 cases to work through.
To speed up the process, it will be redeploying and hiring additional staff, holding longer daytime planning committees, and bringing some consultation periods down to the statutory 21 days to review applications more quickly. Phone lines will be closed allowing it to focus its resources on processing applications. Information on specific applications will be updated via the Planning Applications Search on the Kensington & Chelsea website.
Individual timescales for applications cannot be given, the council said, adding that it will “do everything we can to work through them as quickly as possible in a fair, efficient and transparent way.”
If an application was open to consultation on 19th November 2025, the consultation will restart from the beginning. If an application had already been out to consultation and that consultation had been concluded by 19th November 2025, the case will be assessed and decided or may be referred to the relevant Planning Committee.
For applications submitted on or after 19th November, consultation where required will begin following assessment and a decision or committee recommendation. Consultations may be shortened to move applications on quickly or reduce delays.
Information on specific applications is being updated via the Planning Applications Search on the Council’s website.
For more updates on Kensington & Chelsea, visit EyeOnLondon Kensington & Chelsea.
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