Westferry developer switches from flats to hotel

By John Hill on November 9, 2009 5:11 PM |

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A "mid-market" hotel is being planned for land near Westferry DLR station.

Tower Hamlets Council has received a full planning application from Aitch Group for the construction of a 252-room hotel with conference rooms, a restaurant, cafe and bar.

Planning permission was granted, following appeal, in 2007 for a mostly residential development, comprising a seven-storey building with ground floor commercial space and 21 flats and a 20-storey building with three commercial levels and 99 flats.

However, the developer has been forced to re-jig the plans due to the "very significant slump in the residential housing market".

The new scheme, which has been discussed at a series of meetings with the council in March and April this year, will feature a staggered three, 14 and 16 storey building at 82 West India Dock Road. The full height of the largest building will rise to 57m, while the lower block will be 12m.

A design and access statement prepared by StudioBG claims the hotel will be "a quality building that will be a new landmark for this area".

It said: "This development will provide a new business venue for the area and provide a stimulus for business activities in a location that is well served by public transport.

"This hotel project will regenerate this part of West India Dock Road, generally perceived to be on the fringes of the more affluent Docklands area, and provide much needed employment in the current economic climate."