Planning permission has been approved to transform the historic Custom House between London and Tower Bridges into a hotel, with public spaces.
The neo-classical building on Lower Thames Street has stood empty since 2021, when it was vacated by HMRC. Now, after getting the green light from the City of London, it will be turned into a 170-bedroom hotel, with spas and pools and the like.
Importantly, the building will also include significant spaces for the general public. Under the plans drawn up by Orms and Richard Griffiths Architects, the venue will see "a new public ground-floor route through the former King’s Warehouse which will be brought to life by dynamic historic displays, a series of galleries and an exhibition/engagement space in the West Wing, and a curated historical library within the former Tide Waiter’s Room".
This is not the first attempt to redevelop for the site. Previous plans for a luxury hotel proved controversial, raising objections from SAVE Britain’s Heritage and the Georgian Group, who argued that the scheme was unsympathetic to the building's history, and would lock out the general public. That scheme was later rejected.
The fresh, and now successful, plan, from new owners Jastar Capital, was drawn up in consultation with heritage groups and the City of London, with "painstaking research into the history of the building". While it remains 'mostly hotel', large chunks or of the development will be open to the public. The riverside terrace will also be remodelled, offering step-free access for the first time.
Speaking of the public access, Elyse Howell-Price, Associate Director and Historic Buildings Specialist at architects Orms, had this to add:
"Custom House has witnessed London's evolution for centuries. Our proposals ensure that it continues to serve the City not as a museum piece, but as a living, accessible part of London's heritage fabric and Destination City vision. Throughout the process we’ve enjoyed productive dialogue with the many stakeholders invested in preserving and celebrating this building by bringing it back into use.”
Custom House is indeed a very important building. The 200-year-old structure was originally built as a centre for the collection of customs duties. The site's history goes back still further, with evidence of taxation facilities stretching back to the 14th century.
Jastor Capital's press release calls the building an "Iconic London landmark" (don't they always?). That's stretching things. We'd guess about 5% of Londoners would know what it was. But given its history, location and Grade-I-listed status, the building deserves to be better known. We might not be getting a 'new Somerset House', as the Georgian Group and the Gentle Author had hoped, but the revision goes some way to putting the place back on the map.
(Sidenote: We can also look forward to TfL erecting "This is not the station for the Custom House" at the distant Custom House Elizabeth line and DLR station, much like they've done at Abbey Road DLR.)
