It is one of the capital’s most recognisable mid-century landmarks, in the throes of a multi-million pound transformation.
But ordinary Londoners who might have been hoping for a peep inside the former American Embassy building on Grosvenor Square when it reopens for business in 2025 will be disappointed.
The upscale Rosewood Hotel Group which will operate a five-star hotel from the former embassy has decided to withdraw public access to its 7th floor amidst fears that visitors could get lost on their way up from the lobby and may compromise the security of paying guests.
When planning permission was granted to convert the 1960-build embassy in 2017 it was on the condition that members of the public would be allowed up to the 7th floor, where there will also be a bar and restaurant.
But Rosewood chiefs are set to rescind the offer, arguing that the “operational challenges” of allowing passers by to take a look at the lavish building and enjoy views over Grosvenor Square and Mayfair, are too great. The public will still be allowed to visit the shops in the lobby.
Deirdra Armsby, Westminster Council’s director of town planning and building control, supports Rosewood’s application to change the terms of its planning permission, and its application is due to be rubber stamped by Westminster Council’s planning applications sub committee today.
“There is no dedicated lift to the rooftop space which by-passes the lower floors,” explained Armsby. “Not only does this impact on wayfinding, but it also raises security concerns.
“The same bank of lifts serving the seventh floor also serves the ballroom, which would further exacerbate these issues in periods of peak lift demand … the applicants contend that unregulated public access to the seventh floor level would put a strain on the hotel operation and service delivery to paying guests and visitors.”
“… Whilst the loss of guaranteed public access to the seventh floor is unfortunate, there would be no reasonable planning grounds for resisting this.”
The embassy building was designed by Eero Saarinen and it will reopen as a 139 room hotel, The Chancery Rosewood, within two years. Announcing the launch of the hotel, Sonia Cheng, chief executive officer of the Rosewood Hotel Group, described the project as an “incredible public interest initiative”.
Of course, those who are in a position to book one of the two 7th floor suites at the hotel will be able to enjoy the view to their heart’s content.
Prices for the Chancery Rosewood have not yet been announced — but basic rooms at Rosewood’s Covent Garden Hotel currently start at £668 per night, with the grandest suite costing £7,658 per night.
