Developer Chart Forte has secured planning approval to deliver a four-storey rooftop extension as part of the conversion of a former City of London office building into a luxury hotel.
The City of London Corporation has granted consent for the redevelopment of the Grade II-listed St Clement’s House at 27–28 Clements Lane, clearing the way for a 180-key Marriott hotel in the heart of the Square Mile. The scheme is being brought forward by family-run developer Chart Forte (Monument), with designs by Studio Moren.
Construction works are expected to commence this summer, with the build programme anticipated to last between 18 and 24 months.
Located between Monument and Bank, the mid-19th century building will be transformed from underused office space into a design-led hotel, supporting the City’s wider ambition to diversify land use beyond its traditional commercial office base. The proposals include a public-facing ground floor offering a lounge, restaurant, café and bar, helping to animate the surrounding streetscape throughout the day and evening.
A key feature of the scheme is a lightweight metal rooftop extension that will add four new storeys of guest accommodation. The curved design has been developed to respond sensitively to the building’s historic context, drawing inspiration from its existing segmental arches as well as the vaulted forms of nearby St Clement’s Church. This approach allows the hotel to increase capacity while maintaining a respectful relationship with the surrounding townscape.
The conversion is underpinned by a heritage-led strategy that will see key architectural features retained and restored. These include the marble-clad street-level façade, original staircases and cast-iron columns. Elements that have been lost over time, such as decorative plaster ceilings, chimney breasts and internal arches, will be reinstated as part of the works.
Sustainability sits at the heart of the proposals, with the project targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating. A reuse-first approach will be adopted, incorporating roof-mounted photovoltaic panels, low-carbon materials and building services, fabric upgrades, rainwater harvesting and the creation of a biodiverse green roof.
Once complete, the hotel is expected to make a significant contribution to the City’s growing leisure and hospitality offer, bringing new life to a historic building while responding to changing patterns of demand in the Square Mile.
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