Conversion of Hammersmith Grove Office Block into Hotel Proposed

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1940s building would contain 171 guest rooms

A visualisation from the developer of how the hotel might look

August 1, 2024

An empty office building by Hammersmith Underground station may be revamped and reimagined as a 171-room hotel. Grove House, a five-storey 1940s block on Hammersmith Grove, was vacated in 2023, due in-part to the impacts of post-pandemic working and the building’s poor quality.

This was despite a refurbishment in 2013, which included the installation of a 131-seat auditorium to improve its offering to tenants. The building has been marketed to prospective tenants since September 2022, but with little success.

Under the proposal, the existing 1940s building would be retained, with the intention to focus on ‘adapting and re-using’ the current structure. The 171 rooms would be installed from levels one to four, with the ground floor to host affordable workspace and facilities for both the public and hotel guests. These include a restaurant and bar, outdoor seating, a lounge and games room, and a café.

In planning documents filed as part of the submission, workers looking to stay near their company offices during the week are identified as expected to form a core part of the market. It will also be available to key workers needing to be close to hospitals and universities, such as Charing Cross.

Grove House as it is now

Central and Provincial Properties, the developer behind the scheme, has been in discussion with some of the local theatres, the documents add, “who have expressed an interest in renting the auditorium on an ad hoc basis, particularly for performances where a venue size between their current large auditorium and smaller incubator sized spaces is required”. Films, comedy nights and private events are also envisaged to make use of the space.

The 171 rooms are to be divided into 33 different room types, with 18 to be adapted for guests with additional mobility needs.

While much of the current building will be retained, there are some amendments featured in the plans. These include replacing the entrance canopy, adding new windows and amending the rear staircase.

An aerial view of Grove House from documents submitted by the applicant

Grove House’s location in Hammersmith Town Centre puts it within walking distance of several local venues, including the Lyric Theatre, Apollo Theatre, and Riverside Studios. The Shepherd’s Bush Empire and Bush Theatre are also in close proximity.

A recently-approved Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for Hammersmith Town Centre detailed a target of 10,000 new jobs in the area, as well as a series of infrastructure works, such as replacing the flyover with a tunnel.

Central and Provincial has been approached for comment.

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