Furious mansion flat residents have vowed to fight plans to open a luxury six-star hotel on their road as they fear it could bring loud music and a nightclub atmosphere to their plush central-London doorstep.
Residents of Fountain House – where two-bed flats sell for £4.4million – have launched an appeal against Westminster Council’s decision to grant Park Street Hotel a license in a Grade II listed building just across the street.
In a move they claim will see ‘Mayfair turned into Soho’, the bar will be allowed to stay open until 11.30pm on weekdays and midnight on weekends – although the hotel says it will only be open to residents.
A four-day court hearing is due to be held later this year as wealthy flat-owners say they will fight for their homes.
One resident, 62, who has lived in the block for more than 40 years, said they love the area because of its peace.
‘They want a late licence so there will be loud music and a nightclub style atmosphere,’ they told The Standard.
Residents of Fountain House – where two-bed flats sell for £4.4million – have launched an appeal against Westminster Council ‘s decision to grant Park Street Hotel a license in a Grade II listed building just across the street. Pictured: The proposed entrance to the hotel
In a move they claim will see ‘Mayfair turned into Soho’, the bar will be allowed to stay open until 11.30pm on weekdays and midnight on weekends – although the hotel says it will only be open to residents. Pictured: The proposed dining area
The proposed six-star hotel and restaurant is set to include a plush dining area complete with padded velvet chairs and huge, gleaming white bedrooms (pictured)
‘We want to live in Mayfair not in in a place like Soho which is a party area. My flat is at the front so the noise will hit us. We will fight this, it’s not the right are for a hotel. We will put up a fight to stop these plans.’
The proposed six-star hotel and restaurant is set to include a plush dining area complete with padded velvet chairs and huge, gleaming white bedrooms.
The street – which also hosts the 420-room JW Marriott Grosvenor House hotel – is seconds away from Hyde Park and a short walk from London’s most exclusive spots, including the Ritz and Fortnum and Mason.
But a second resident – a 23-year-old who works in law – said he and his neighbours would fight to protect the block he was born in.
He said: ‘If this hotel is built a cornerstone of London will be lost. People like this area because it is not congested and still has its charm. A huge hotel will bring more cars, more noise and change the character of the area beyond recognition.’
Others argue that the addition would be out of character for the ‘homely’ street and would disrupt their day-to-day lives.
The proposed building is set to have just six to eight bedrooms and residential apartments on the upper floors.
The lower floors will house a gym, spa, restaurant, dining areas and two outdoor terraces.
The street – which also hosts the 420-room JW Marriott Grosvenor House hotel – is seconds away from Hyde Park and a short walk from London’s most exclusive spots, including the Ritz and Fortnum and Mason
And another resident – who lodged their complaint to the council – claimed that the development could increase crime and make their street noisy and busy.
They said: ‘We totally oppose these plans, as this development would drastically change the character of the neighbourhood, create serious noise pollution, create substantial congestion, in both vehicular and foot traffic, and increase the potential for crime.
‘It would also violate our privacy and that of many Park Street residents. It would reduce the value of the adjacent residential property.
‘In sum, this proposal is entirely inconsistent with the character of this neighbourhood. It would drastically reduce the quality of life of current residents, while also drastically reducing the value of their property.’
After further submissions were made by the hotel the resident further slammed the efforts made by planning officials as ‘absurd and offensive’.
This is despite experts repeatedly assuring their confidence that the street would not be significantly affected by the development.
They fumed: ‘This development would also threaten the security of our neighbourhood, with people congregating on the street to smoke, parties, consumption of alcohol, and uncontrolled human traffic.
‘Not only do we have many children residing in our neighbourhood, but there is also a primary school nearby in Mount Street Gardens. Young children walk up and down Aldford every day going between the bus stop on Park Street and their school.
‘This development would make the neighbourhood unsafe for families and children.
‘The developers have consistently misrepresented their plans and have consistently misrepresented the impact of this proposal on this residential neighbourhood. Their claim, based on walking around the neighbourhood one night and seeing few lights on, that many flats are inhabited is absurd and offensive.
‘I trust the Council will inform these developers that the only appropriate use of this building is residential. Please do not let them destroy our neighbourhood.’
Consultant Dr Philip Hadfield concluded that he had a ‘high level of confidence’ that the application should be granted after a guided tour and explanation of the develpment by a security officer at the site and an assessment of the location.
In evidence provided to the council, he said: ‘In this case the Applicant has in place a comprehensive ‘Management Plan’ for 14-16 Park Street which anticipates and addresses such concerns.
‘I would respectfully suggest that the application can be granted with a high level of confidence that the operation of this licensed premises will not give rise to a public nuisance to residents or negatively impact any of the licensing objectives, subject to the negotiation of suitable Conditions to compliment the Applicant’s Management Plan.’
A second independent licensing consultant, ex-policeman Adrian Studd,
Mr Studd, who was in charge of licensing for the 2012 Olympic Games, said: ‘The proposed hotel premises is modest in size and capacity with just eight double bedrooms over two floors and two small apartments on the top two floors.
‘There is no provision for live music and there are other facilities for guests, such as the leisure pool and gym facilities, which highlight the premises as a ‘home from home’ rather than a destination restaurant or club.
‘The proposed conditions are comprehensive and have been developed as a result of consultation with the residents.
‘The conditions significantly limit the activities that can take place at the premises, the times that those activities can take place and those who can use those facilities.
‘These conditions provide a robust framework which will ensure that the premises can only operate in a manner that supports the Licensing Objectives and does not cause noise or nuisance to residents.’