Luxury Wharf hotel to take on the West End

By John Hill on April 10, 2008 9:00 AM |

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A BOUTIQUE 150-bedroom hotel could be on the cards near Westferry Circus.

Plans for the luxury hotel overlooking the Heron Quays roundabout have been submitted to Tower Hamlets Council.

Architect Patel Taylor has drawn up a clear and opaque glass design for the 37-storey tower and podium development, known as Newfoundland.

It has been proposed by South Quay Properties, which is part of estate owner Canary Wharf Group. The 2,500 square metre site is currently a 75-space private car park.

In a planning statement received by Tower Hamlets Council this month, the applicant said the building would “enhance the vitality of the Canary Wharf estate”.

It added: “This part of the Isle of Dogs is not well served by hotels in general and the development will provide immediate access to the heart of the Canary Wharf financial district, thereby extending the choice for those who might normally travel to the West End or further afield for overnight accommodation.”

Newfoundland’s 78 serviced apartments would be used for short-term accommodation for visiting business people.

A hotel restaurant would be complemented by a separate restaurant overlooking Middle Dock on the first floor. The second and third floors would also contain a training or education centre. Access to the Jubilee Place mall and Heron Quays DLR can be provided through an underground link.

The Newfoundland development would be located between several planned projects to the west of the Canary Wharf estate, including Grattan Property’s 45-storey One Park Place scheme.

The office, retail and restaurant development immediately to the north east also filed an application for planning permission this week.

Canary Wharf Group has already been cleared to build the three-tower Heron Quays West offices to the east, and is preparing the proposed site of Riverside South to the west. But parent company Songbird has postponed speculative projects in the wake of the credit crunch, meaning the latter is unlikely to be
developed until a tenant is found.