Bid to place yacht hotel at heart of royal dock
By John Hill
A supersized Sunborn yacht hotel could be returning to Royal Docks. The original yacht hotel left for Africa last August, but Sunborn International is bidding to place a larger ship a few yards along Royal Victoria Dock near the Hotel Novotel London Excel.
The 7,576sq m vessel would feature 153 cabins, as well as meeting and conference rooms, offices, restaurants and bars. The original provided 104 cabins.
Sunborn told Newham Council the yacht would create "an attractive environment for the use of occupants and visitors" which would "increase vibrancy and vitality and contribute to the continued regeneration of the area".
Sunborn hopes to secure a 15-year berth for the yacht, which is 119m long, 18.4m and 15.6m high.
Its new position will place it right next to the Royal Victoria Square near the main entrance to the Excel Centre, potentially restricting water views enjoyed by people living in the upmarket Warehouse W complex.
Consultation on the plans will continue until the end of the month, and Newham Council is expected to make a decision in October.
The Sunborn was originally moored to the east of the Excel centre, and was cleared to remain in place until April 2015 back in 2003.
However, Excel has since announced plans for its phase two expansion plan, which will add another 36,000 square metres to the exhibition space.
As a result, the Sunborn is unable to return to its old spot, and has instead earmarked a prominent site directly between Excel and the Novotel.
David Pegler, managing director for Excel London, said: "It is an interesting idea, but we have not been involved in any discussion to date. However, we are aware that planning permission has been submitted to Newham Council."
The yacht hotel would house a maximum of 306 guests, and feature a brasserie as well as a fine dining restaurant, a bar, two conference rooms and two board rooms. Staff numbers would increase from 60 to 80.
According to Sunborn's design and access statement, "the proposals would continue to support the visitor attraction of the Excel Centre and would make a positive contribution within the context of its surroundings without causing harm to neighbouring amenity or pedestrian and highway safety."
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Businesses such as this Yatch Hotel are great for the Royal Docks, but they do rely on a high quality environment to attract customers.
Who is going to stay there given that the area is blighted aircraft noise from London City Airport?
I have wanted to stay at the Sunborn as a treat but I knew my stay would be spoilt by the non-stopaircraft noise.
I am afraid this will be another causualty of the expansion of London City Airport!.
While I support having the yacht hotel at the docks (will be great for the profile of the area) I cannot agree with its proposed location. Many locals use this spot for recreation and this is where you can get an excellent open view of the dock, Canary Wharf and so on. Mooring a ship that size is equal to erecting a muti-story building. The attraction of the are in front of ExCel is its openness, and blocking the view with such an enormous ship will have a negative impact to my mind. Of course, this is the prime place to place a ship, but allowing the hotel business should not happen at the expense of local residents and visitors who want to enjoy the open water and views. An alternative mooring place (just slightly further up or down the dock) should be looked at.
I see the Fight the Fight brigade is out again. The reason the area is thriving in the first place is thanks to the airport. Just go and ask ExCel.
I don't suspect I will get an answer today as they're probably living with the great unwashed until Tuesday.
The proposed position is an absolute joke. Sunborn are proposing to open up the area to significant amounts of traffic. I am a resident nearby and always see young children running around the Royal Victoria Square. This would be disastrous!
Newham Council tonight approved planning application to moor this huge futuristic "James Bond" style yacht along side the only piece of open public space that Royal Victoria Dock has to offer.
This monstrosity will destroy the historical charm that the Dock currently offers and cause havoc and embarrassment come the 2012 Olympic Games.
saynotoyacht@hotmail.com