Claridge's is granted permission for Britain's biggest 'iceberg' basement adding a spa, pool and even in-house chocolatier to the luxury Mayfair hotel
- Five-star hotel Claridge's to add five-storey 20,000sq ft 'mega basement'
- The new space will include a pool, sauna, spa and even an in-house chocolatier
- Westminster City Council granted plan to 'enhance London's luxury reputation'
A five-star hotel in London has been given permission to build the biggest basement in the UK because it will ‘enhance the capital’s reputation as a luxury destination’.
Claridge’s hotel has been given the go-ahead on the 20,000 sq ft project by Westminster City Council despite its recent crackdown on basement extensions.
A five-storey area will be added on to the bottom of the hotel, in a design that somewhat resembles an iceberg.
Claridge's Hotel, pictured, has been given permission to build the UK's biggest basement after Westminster City Council agreed it would 'enhance London's luxury reputation'
Designs for the extension, pictured, reveal it will be five storeys deep and make the development resemble an 'iceberg'
The new floorspace will include a swimming pool, in-house chocolatier, wine cellar and bakery at the 203-room hotel, where rooms can start from £480 per night.
Owners the Maybourne Group argued the new facilities were ‘must haves’ for a modern day luxury hotel, and the council planners agreed it was important Claridge’s could keep up with competition from around the globe.
Robert Davis, deputy leader and cabinet member for the built environment, told the Evening Standard the council was ‘proud of Westminster’s reputation as the home of luxury’.
He said: ‘Additional basements on an already major refurbishment of the historic Claridge’s hotel in a commercial part of the city was regarded as proportional given the enhancement to this world-famous, world-class hotel.
‘In particular, the extended basement will provide a new spa which will ensure Claridge’s remains a sophisticated, modern five-star hotel that can compete with global competition.’
The plans, pictured, show there will be a swimming pool and sauna on one of the new floors
Another basement level, pictured, will include a gym and conference centre
There will also be a floor that comes complete with a wine cellar and bicycle storage
Plans for the basement have been approved alongside a general extension which will see 40 more rooms built on two new floors at the hotel.
Additional rooms for laundry and storage are also expected to mean fewer delivery vans attending the hotel on a day-to-day basis, reducing noise and traffic problems.
In a statement, a spokesman for Maybourne, which also owns the Berkeley and Connaught hotels, added: 'Claridge’s is excited about our future development plans to put in to place state of the art, sustainable technology and systems which will further enhance services for our guests, staff and neighbours, taking this iconic Mayfair hotel’s vision into the next century.’
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