The historic Custom House between London and Tower Bridges is set to become 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, a planning application would see it turned into a 170-bedroom hotel, with spas and pools and the like.
Importantly, the building would also include significant spaces for the general public. Under the proposals drawn up by Orms and Richard Griffiths Architects, the venue would 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 proposal 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 plans were unsympathetic to the building's history, and would lock out the general public. The scheme was later rejected.
This fresh submission, from new owners Jastar Capital, has apparently been 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.
Custom House is a very important building. The 200-year-old structure was originally built as a centre for the collection of customs duties (hello tariffs news-hook!). The site's history goes back still further, with evidence of taxation facilities stretching back to the 14th century.
The 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.
If the scheme is approved, we can 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.
