You could soon be having a snooze in one of the most historically significant buildings in the cityas plans to transform London’s legendary Custom House into a luxury hotel have been submitted to the City of London Corporation.
Perched on the north bank of the River Thames, the Grade I listed building played a pivotal role in London’s global trading network, having been originally built as a centre of custom duty collection. Custom House was most recently occupied by HMRC, but has been left empty since 2021. But now, plans to give the landmark a new luxurious lease of life are on the horizon. Having been purchased in 2023 by real estate firm, Jastar Capitalthe beloved building could soon be turned into a riverside hotel, boasting 179 rooms, a restaurant, a café, and a spa. If all goes to plan, that is.
A similar(ish) application was rejected in 2022, as concerns about the potential harm that could be caused to the building were raised by heritage groups. These new plans, however, have been carefully drawn-up alongside heritage groups. Investigations into the building’s history and construction have taken place to ensure that the refurbishment is as sensitive as possible, and that all building work will compliment Custom House’s original architecture.
What are the plans that have been submitted?
The proposed plans include hotel rooms being built in the east and west wings, and a spa being constructed in the basement (complete with swimming pool, sauna and steam roomof course). Plans to provide public access to key historical spaces within the building are also featured in the proposal. A new public ground-floor route into the former King’s Warehouse (which will house both permanent and changing exhibitions and artworks) feature in the proposal, alongside a new outdoor public space (which will host various events and markets throughout the year).
Jastar Jastar of Capital Capitalsaid: “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. We extend our sincere thanks to all the stakeholders who have helped shape this exciting proposal which will bring this iconic London landmark back to life”.
You can read more about the proposed hotel plans for Custom House and the next steps here.
