The possibility of partly or entirely covering the ramp was considered as part of the original design of the visitor entrance. But Westminster city council planning officers and English Heritage provided firm advice that any obscuring of the west elevation of Westminster Hall or the statue of Oliver Cromwell would result in rejection of the planning application, and so covering the ramp was not included in the application. The Director General of Facilities rejected a business case proposing such a covering in early 2011 because this advice remained unchanged. It would be desirable to have a covering over the ramp, but no purpose would be served by planning one unless it was clear that the views of Westminster city council and English Heritage had changed.