The Georgian Group welcomes today’s decision by the City of London’s Planning Committee to approve the applications for Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent to convert the London Custom House to hotel use.
This decision marks the culmination of seven years of dedicated work by the Group. Since the new scheme came forward in 2023, we have engaged in numerous productive discussions and input sessions with the applicant to develop a scheme that not only respects the exceptional value of the building’s interiors and exterior but also provides meaningful public access, allowing everyone to appreciate its grandeur.
We extend our thanks to Orms Architects and Richard Griffiths Architects for designing the scheme, and to Jastar Capital for ensuring this important building will be reopened to the public. Finally, we acknowledge our Senior Conservation Adviser, Eddie Waller, who has been advocating to ensure an appropriate use for the building since 2019.
Dr Anya Lucas, Director of The Georgian Group, said:
‘Today’s decision is excellent news for Custom House – a Grade I listed City landmark in whose future the Group has been heavily invested for a number of years. Just three years ago, we successfully resisted a harmful scheme for the conversion of this building – one of London’s most important Georgian buildings- at Public Inquiry. By contrast, this new scheme flows from a real understanding of architectural and historic significance. The proposals will enhance the building’s fine neoclassical architecture and place it at the heart of an exciting new cultural offering. The Georgian Group has played an integral role in discussions with the applicant and could not be more delighted with this dramatic change in the building’s fortunes. We congratulate Jastar Capital and their project team and look forward to seeing this exciting scheme completed. More generally, this case underlines the value of our Conservation advice to the development industry and our willingness to get involved in a sustained and meaningful way with pre-application discussion.’