The City of London Corporation’s Planning Applications Sub-Committee has unanimously approved plans to restore and convert the Grade 1 Listed Custom House on Lower Thames Street into a 179-room hotel.

Formerly an office for His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, the historic Custom House sits between Sugar Quay to the east and Old Billingsgate Market to the west along the waterfront.

Described as an exemplar of collaboration between City planners and the applicant, the new hotel will feature a spa, health centre, and a variety of food and beverage options, opening up the building to the public for the first time. Visitors will gain access to the historic Tidewaiters and Long Rooms, which will also be available for community and cultural groups.

The wider site redevelopment will deliver additional public benefits, including a reimagined quayside. The project will create a new inclusive public space of roughly 2,400 square metres – the size of 12 tennis courts – with unfettered access 24/7, 365 days a year, replacing the existing car park and security railings.

The project forms part of the City’s broader strategy to expand its hotel stock, which currently stands at around 4,800 rooms, with 1,000 more in the planning pipeline. This growth is central to the Corporation’s ‘Destination City’ strategy, aimed at accommodating a projected rise in visitors to the area.

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