Major 530-Bed Hotel with Rooftop Bar and Garden Planned Next to Borough Market
A significant redevelopment proposal could transform a key site near London Bridge and Borough Market into a new 530-bed hotel featuring a rooftop bar, terrace garden, and cultural venue. The plans, submitted by Latium Real Estate and Infinite Partners, are set for consideration by Southwark Council's Planning Committee at a meeting scheduled for March 3.
Details of the Proposed Hotel Development
The project involves partially demolishing two office buildings at 22-24 Southwark Bridge Road to construct a 17-storey hotel. The design includes a swimming pool and spa, a gym, a restaurant and bar with a garden terrace overlooking Southwark Bridge Road, and a small private bar with its own terrace. On the fourteenth floor, plans feature a sky bar with a terrace garden and external bar, offering panoramic views of the area.
Hotel rooms would span from the mezzanine floor to the fifteenth floor, providing accommodation in a prime location close to Southwark's tourist attractions. Additionally, 408 square meters of ground floor space would be dedicated to a cultural venue for live music, food and drink, pop-up retail, and arts activities, alongside a public café.
Planning Rationale and Community Response
Planning officers have recommended approval, citing a decline in demand for office floorspace in the local area. They note that the buildings are currently leased to office occupiers but have received no viable offers, making the hotel proposal an alternative commercial development. This project aims to meet growing demand for visitor accommodation while boosting economic activity on an underutilized site in the Central Activities Zone (CAZ).
The plans have generated mixed feedback, with 31 objections and 5 responses that are neutral or supportive. Objectors express concerns about the hotel's height, lack of public benefits, and perceived oversupply of hotels in the location. In response, planning officers argue that the hotel will create jobs, enhance economic activity, and address a demand for hotel beds, with the building height deemed acceptable after assessments of design, heritage, and residential amenity.
Community Engagement and Broader Context
The London LGBTQ+ Community Centre has commented on the development, acknowledging risks of gentrification but welcoming the applicants' commitment through their Community Investment Programme. They emphasize holding Infinite Partners accountable to ensure value and growth for all residents.
This proposal aligns with broader discussions on tourism in London, including Mayor Sadiq Khan's powers to levy a tourist tax, which Southwark Council supports to manage tourism pressures and ensure visitor contributions to borough upkeep and sustainability.
Planning officers conclude that the redevelopment promotes sustainable development by revitalizing a brownfield site in an accessible location. It offers public benefits such as employment opportunities, a cultural facility accessible to local residents, and contributions to sustainable transport and public realm improvements.
