Green light for new Vauxhall Premier Inn
Whitbread PLC, the UK’s largest hotel business and owner of Premier Inn, has secured planning permission to convert an 11-storey office block in Vauxhall in Central London into a 180-bedroom budget hotel.
Lambeth Council’s planning committee voted unanimously yesterday (29th July) to approve the proposals to change the use of Phoenix House, a little over five months since Whitbread made a legal commitment to occupy the vacant building.
In February, Whitbread entered into a contract to occupy the former 7,469 sqm office, subject to achieving planning, with the Council retaining the longer-term head lease.
The consented conversion will see Whitbread adapt the building interior to accommodate Premier Inn’s latest format bedrooms – including its enhanced Premier Plus rooms – as well as a guest-focused restaurant on the mezzanine floor.
Alterations to the exterior of the building are minimal and are in keeping with the existing design, and the hotel is anticipated to create around 27 new permanent hospitality jobs on opening.
Jonathan Langdon, Senior Acquisition Manager for Whitbread, said:
“We have been searching a suitable location for a Premier Inn in the Vauxhall area for nearly a decade, so it’s fantastic to secure planning consent at Phoenix House and add another excellent location to our Central London network.
“Situated by the River Thames and a four-minute walk from Vauxhall Underground Station, Phoenix House is an excellent hotel location and an ideal base for our leisure and business customers looking to explore the area or catch a fast connection into the heart of London.
“The development is the latest example of how Whitbread can breathe fresh life into unused former offices and, in this case, also provide Lambeth Council with a secure, index-linked income stream. We are on the lookout for more opportunities like this as we continue to expand our market leading brands in London and elsewhere.”
Lambeth Council vacated Phoenix House in 2019 as part of its ‘Your New Town Hall’ scheme. This wide-ranging project sought to reduce Lambeth Council’s core office buildings from 14 to two, with further community benefits including 219 new homes for rent and sale.
Initial attempts to rent out the building to an international office operator were unsuccessful after the firm experienced financial difficulties. During the Covid-19 when demand for buildings of this size was depressed the council used the offices as temporary space for specific projects.
Whitbread’s plans for Phoenix House form part of its strategy to seize the opportunity to convert former office buildings which no longer meet the requirements of occupiers and investors into successful budget hotels.
The company currently operates more than 850 hotels across the UK & Ireland and sees the potential for a 45% growth in its current estate to a long-term potential of 125,000 rooms in the two countries.
It is targeting to welcome guests to the new Vauxhall Premier Inn in 2027. JLL was the planning advisor for Whitbread on the development.
