Plans to build a new five-star Peninsula hotel overlooking the gardens of Buckingham Palace in London have been given the green light.

Construction will now begin in Q2 2017 on the 190-room Peninsula London – located in the district of Belgravia – which will be the first UK property for the luxury Hong Kong hotel brand.

Westminster City Council have approved the design from British studio Hopkins Architects, who envision the creation of a “new focal point and vibrancy to London’s Hyde Park Corner.” A row of existing 1950s and 1960s offices will be demolished to make way for the hotel, which will feature shops, bars, restaurants, a ballroom and a spa.

A grand pedestrian entrance on Grosvenor Place will be accessed from a colonnade linked to an internal 30sq m (323sq ft) Palazzo-style courtyard, which will contain works of art.

Plans also include up to 28 residential apartments with their own leisure and spa facility and a separate entrance.

In addition to the new buildings, improvements will also be made to the public realm in Grosvenor Place, Halkin Street and Grosvenor Crescent. This project will be overseen by international architects, designers and engineers BDP. Footpaths will be widened and new trees planted.

Property investment firm Grosvenor and Peninsula owner The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels are joint venture partners on the project.

In a joint statement, the developers said: “The Peninsula London aims to bring a new level of distinction to London’s luxury hospitality scene and will cater for both hotel guests and local customers. The design is inspired by the area’s heritage, befitting one of London’s most celebrated addresses.”

Grosvenor CEO Peter Vernon added: “This is an exciting opportunity to shape a very special corner of London. Our high-quality development will enhance the West End’s reputation as one of the world’s foremost places to visit and a driving force for the UK economy.”

Clement Kwok, managing Director and CEO of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels said: “We are delighted that the planning committee has resolved to grant planning consent for the development of The Peninsula London.

“London is one of the world’s most dynamic capital cities and we are excited to move another step closer to introducing The Peninsula brand to London.

“This hotel has been designed to align with our group’s philosophy of developing a small number of the world’s best hotels in exceptional locations, while respecting the history and heritage of the local area.”

The project is due to be completed in 2021.

Hopkins Architects behind plans for £500m Peninsula London hotel with views of Buckingham Palace

FEATURE: Top team – Peninsula Hotels