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Plans for a development dubbed London’s ‘first underground hotel’ have been rejected by the local council.
Criterion Capital applied to convert a below-ground NCP car park on great Russell Street in Bloomsbury into a 166-bedroom property, which it hoped to name The LDN hotel.
The hotel was intended to be a Japanese-style ‘pod’ hotel that would provide budget accommodation for tourists and business travellers. The planning application claimed it would fill a gap in the market for “simple, essential service with eco-friendly hotel accommodation”.
The property, which would have only been bookable for a maximum of three nights, would have been artificially lit and did not include plans for a restaurant and bar.
However, the Evening Standard has reported that councillors have rejected the plans, warning it would be a “minus-five star” hotel.
Speaking about the decision, councillor Stephen Stark said: “With no windows in the rooms, it’s not a zero-star rating for the hotel but probably minus five stars.”
