The Corporation’s Planning Applications-Sub Committee has approved proposals to redevelop two office buildings between the future Museum of London site and the Barbican Centre, into to a new hotel.
Buildings at 1-8 Long Lane will be combined and developed into a single, 9-storey hotel that will deliver 128 rooms, including a 10% provision for disabled access, to assist in accommodating a growing number of visitors and tourists to the Square Mile.
According to the Greater London Authority’s London Plan, an additional 58,000 bedrooms of serviced accommodation will be needed across the capital by 2041. The need for visitor accommodation is also reinforced by the Visitor Accommodation Sector Commercial Needs Study, dated January 2023, which identifies a demand capacity for an additional 350 rooms per annum in the , to 2037.
The plans feature a high-quality and refined design, along with new retail units that will enliven and activate the area in the north of the City. Furthermore, the development will also deliver an uplift in public open space, urban greening, and a public art installation, in keeping with the Corporation’s flagship ‘Destination City’ initiative, as well as the distinctive and mixed character of the Smithfield area.
Hotel accommodation forms a significant part of the Destination City policy to boost economic growth in the Square Mile. The City’s growth strategy is designed to attract both major business occupiers and smaller firms, boosting footfall for the hospitality, retail, and leisure sectors.
Chairman of the Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee, Shravan Joshi, said:
“This new hotel will deliver much needed accommodation for visitors to the City, as it continues its transformation into a seven day and evening destination. Its location at Long Lane is ideally suited to this vibrant area.
“The Square Mile has a unique history and culture, which naturally attracts global audiences. Hotel development is therefore key in supporting the business and cultural attraction of the City, especially as it complements our business function and potential for future economic growth.”
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