Plans to turn Leconfield House, the former headquarters of MI5, into a hotel and private members’ club are set to be approved by Westminster City Council.
The seven-storey office building on Curzon Street, Mayfair, W1, was MI5’s HQ between 1945 and 1976. Its owner Leconfield House Holdings, which lists Robert Tchenguiz as a director, submitted plans earlier this year to transform it into a 60 or 70-bedroom hotel, with a private members’ club on sixth and seventh floors and a 8,471 sq ft rooftop restaurant. It also plans to create a 9,139 sq ft health club on one of the basement levels.
Westminster City Council’s planning officers said the scheme was a “well-designed proposal which will preserve and enhance the character and appearance of the Mayfair Conservation Area”.
The planning officers added that it was understood the hotel would likely be operated by Starwood Capital’s SH Hotels and Resorts Group.
However, 64 objections have been received over the use of the property as a private members’ club with the Residents Society of Mayfair & St James’s saying it was an “inappropriate” location and does not provide any amenity for local residents.
The Mayfair Neighbourhood Forum echoed this lack of public amenity and added that the “proposals represent a missed opportunity to enhance this part of the Mayfair Conservation Area with no residential floorspace being provided, no affordable housing, no affordable workspace”.
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