Permission has been granted to build London's first underground hotel, complete with windowless rooms and no source of natural light, 50ft beneath the streets of Bloomsbury.
The controversial 166-bed hotel can be built on the site of a converted former NCP car park underneath St Giles Hotel in Great Russell Street after planning officers gave it their approval.
Situated on the fourth and fifth floors beneath a block near Tottenham Court Road Tube station, the planned hotel would provide budget, short-term stays for tourists and business travellers.
Early artist's impressions show wood-panelled, well-lit rooms with an en suite toilet and shower. They also feature plants growing at the hotel, several storeys underground.
Camden council’s planning committee had previously thrown out plans for the LDN hotel over concerns about air quality and people sleeping in windowless rooms so far underground.
A residents group had even likened the proposals to the overnight bunkers used by Londoners during the Blitz.
Councillor Stephen Stark had warned: “With no windows in the rooms, it’s not a zero-star rating for the hotel but probably minus five stars.”
But that decision was overturned on appeal this week, meaning work could soon start on the subterranean sleeping quarters.
Planning Inspector David Prentis said: “Visitors to London have a wide choice of hotel accommodation. Perhaps some would choose not to sleep in an underground room.
“However, others may well decide that the benefits of a highly accessible location, close to numerous visitor attractions, would outweigh the absence of a window.”
He concluded: “The proposal would make effective use of an under-used part of an existing building.
“It would provide additional visitor accommodation in a highly accessible location.”
Developer Criterion Capital had argued the plans would benefit the area and create 24 new jobs.
Katy Walker, head of planning for the firm, said: “This is an exciting and innovative hotel project, the first of its kind in London.
“We are delighted with the recent appeal decision and look forward to bringing this unique hotel scheme to life.”
