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The City of London Corporation planning committee has unanimously approved the scheme to carefully transform London’s historic Custom House into a hotel, returning the building to public life, creating significant new public space and interiors where the City meets the River. Unusually for a site of such significance, the project has been developed in close collaboration with and received the broad support of the City, Historic England, The Georgian Group, and SAVE Britain's Heritage. Tom Foxall, Regional Director at Historic England, said:
"Custom House has long been a sleeping giant of a building, its potential as a new destination for London lying untapped. We've worked closely with the applicants and the City of London Corporation to get these plans just right. The decision to approve the proposals will enable a really exciting transformation of one of London's most impressive Georgian buildings, giving it a new lease of life while also respecting its significance as a Grade I listed building. The opening up of the riverside and creation of a new public space is particularly welcome, and something we have encouraged for some time. We think this scheme has the potential to secure the future of an extraordinary building, introduce its grandeur to new audiences, and re-energise this part of the Thames."
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