Westminster rejects Criterion’s plans for 357-bed budget hotel

Asif Aziz’s Criterion Capital has had its plans to turn a former HM Passport Office in Pimlico, SW1, into a budget hotel refused by Westminster City Council. Criterion Capital’s plans would have seen the vacant, 90,000 sq ft Globe House at 89 Eccleston Square, turned into a 357-bedroom hotel with a 970 sq ft commercial unit at ground level on Bridge Place. The council said the loss of office space in the central activities zone could not be justified and would adversely affect the aims of the City Plan and London Plan to support office-based job growth in the Victoria Opportunity Area. Objections were also received on the grounds that the proposed hotel would have a harmful impact on the area. Jacqui Wilkinson, ward councillor for Pimlico North, strongly opposed the plans: “A large budget hotel would be out of character with the townscape and heritage of Pimlico and would not be consistent with City Plan policies, which require new development to protect and enhance amenity and local environmental quality. Pimlico suffers increasing antisocial behaviour and a large budget hotel may draw more antisocial behaviour into the area.” Criterion Capital, which bought the building for £40m from M&G’s Life Fund in late 2022, is expected to appeal the refusal. Criterion Capital’s central London portfolio includes hotels in Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus.