The Belgravia Police Station, which has been vacant since 2022, is set to undergo a transformation into a luxury 206-room hotel. This decision has raised concerns among residents, particularly about the potential loss of sunlight and increased noise and disturbance in the area.
The site on Buckingham Palace Road was closed by Mayor Sadiq Khan as part of a larger restructuring of the Met Police. Plans for the building were initially submitted by The Other House last year but were withdrawn due to objections from local residents and officials. The revised scheme for the hotel includes a bar, gym, and restaurant.
While some groups, such as The Belgravia Society and Belgravia Neighbourhood Forum, have expressed support for the project, there have been nearly 30 objections, mainly from residents of the neighboring Fountain Court block. These residents are worried about the impact of the hotel on their access to natural light.
During a recent Westminster City Council Planning Sub-Committee meeting, residents of Fountain Court raised their concerns about the potential loss of light and its effects on their well-being. They argued that as social housing residents, they should be given more consideration in the decision-making process.
Despite these objections, the council approved the hotel scheme unanimously. Some councillors praised the design of the hotel, while others raised concerns about the proposed entrance for hotel guests on Ebury Square. However, the condition to remove this entrance was not added to the approval.
Overall, the approval of the hotel scheme has sparked mixed reactions among residents and officials. While some believe it will bring positive changes to the area, others are worried about the potential negative impacts. The developers, The Other House, declined to comment on the approval decision.
It remains to be seen how the transformation of the Belgravia Police Station into a luxury hotel will affect the surrounding community and whether measures will be taken to address the concerns raised by residents.
