Luxury hotel plans submitted for Custom House

The proposed hotel would feature a spa, health facilities and food and drink spaces

A historic Grade I listed building on the north bank of the River Thames could be turned into a luxury 179-room hotel.

Custom House, on Lower Thames Street in central London, played a significant role in London's global trading network and was most recently occupied by HMRC before it was vacated in 2021.

A previous application to develop the site was rejected on appeal in 2022 by the Planning Inspectorate, after the City of London Corporation indicated it would have refused the proposal.

The new plans submitted to the local authority include a spa and food and drink spaces, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Custom House was bought by real estate company Jastar Capital in 2023 through a subsidiary, Custom House City Ltd.

The developer has said it also has a cultural strategy of establishing a "golden thread" through key historic spaces including a public ground-floor route through the former King's Warehouse, accompanied by historic displays.

A new café and a public quayside space are also included along with opening up more of the Thames Path to make accessible to the public all year.

Architects Orms said they aimed to envision "the potential that the revitalisation of the site could achieve by improving the experience of the riverside for all Londoners"

Jay Matharu, from Jastar Capital, said the proposal would "bring this iconic London landmark back to life".

"As long-term custodians, we are thrilled to put forward our plans to revitalise Custom House with welcoming community spaces, a heritage-focused hotel, elegant event spaces, exceptional dining experiences, a dedicated spa, and a dynamic quayside," he added.

Elyse Howell-Price from architectural firm Orms, which has designed the proposed development, said the site was "a hugely sensitive heritage asset in one of the most significant riverside sites in The City of London".

She added that in drawing up the plans, the firm investigated the history and construction of the building while "envisioning the potential that the revitalisation of the site could achieve by improving the experience of the riverside for all Londoners".