The Park Lane Hilton, W1, is to be extensively refurbished to include new luxury residential flats. The project could result in the hotel’s closure for around two years.
London & Regional, the property company of the billionaire Livingstone brothers, owns what is one of the best known hotels in the capital.
It has drawn up plans with Hopkins Architects which include 28 flats for the upper floors of the main tower. With views across Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace and Mayfair, they would likely be some of the most desirable and expensive in Mayfair.
The plans also include an additional, adjacent four-storey building on Stanhope Row, which will include 29 serviced apartments.
A restaurant will also feature on level 21, which would have 360-degree views.
As a result of the refurbishment the 453-bedroom hotel will reduce its bedrooms to between 350 and 448 dependent upon configuration.
The façade of the 1960s-built hotel will be refurbished along with a partial demolition and redevelopment of its rear ballroom.
The current basement would be excavated as part of the proposals in order to provide three additional levels, which would house an enlarged ballroom, meeting rooms and leisure facilities for hotel guests and residents. However, the current car park will be reduced from 130 to 70 spaces.
The Hilton currently boats one of the largest ballroom spaces in London, with the Grand Ballroom’s current capacity for 1,250 guests.
The closure of the hotel during refurbishment is likely to boost conference and events business at neighbouring hotels The Grosvenor and The Dorchester.
The Park Lane Hilton was the first Hilton in the UK, completed in 1963. London & Regional added the asset to its £9bn property empire in 2001 when the Livingstones bought it from Land Securities for £157m.
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