Developer downsizes Blackfriars Road hotel plan after rejection
By Grainne Cuffe, Local Democracy Reporter
A developer has shrunk the size of its planned hotel and cut the number of rooms it wants to build after its first proposals were rejected.
Endurance Land wants to build a 169-room, eight-storey hotel with a roof terrace, along with office space in the car park behind 160 Blackfriars Road, Southwark.
The original plans, rejected by a Southwark planning committee in 2018, included 220 rooms and were two storeys higher – an appeal was also dismissed.
Councillors argued there were already enough rooms for tourists in the area – and some hotel rooms would have no windows.
According to the new planning statement: “The scheme has been revisited to directly respond to the feedback of the Planning Inspectorate.
“This has included significantly reducing the scale and height of the building, a more conventional and neutral architectural design, a more welcoming and defined public realm and courtyard and a reduction in the number of hotel beds.”
The developer reduced the height to just under 30 metres.
Ruby Hotels, a German ‘lifestyle hotel’ operator, is the top choice if the plans are approved.
Designed again by EPR Architects, the plans include a courtyard for local workers and residents dubbed ‘Friars Yard’, while affordable work space will also be available via Friars Yard.
“The space is being made available to local groups and start-ups to encourage local business development and community groups through the provision of low-cost work space,” the statement added.
“The developer is actively looking for to secure an operator/charity for the affordable community workspace.”
Endurance Land say the hotel was expected to bring more than 80,000 extra visitors to the area every year and estimates guests will spend nearly £9 million per year locally.
The application will be decided by a planning committee at a date yet to be set.
Pictured top: An artist’s impression of how the development’s courtyard may look