The Old War Office in London, the former HQ of Winston Churchill, is set to be converted into a luxury hotel as well as brand new residences.
The luxury brand of the AccorsHotels Group, Raffles Hotels & Resorts, are working together with Indian conglomerate Hinduja Group and Spanish construction company Obrascon Huarte Lain Desarrollos (OHLD) in order to renovate the historic Old War Office building in Whitehall.
The building is Grade II listed and encompasses 1,100 rooms across a total of seven floors with two miles of corridors alone and was bought by the Hinduja Group and OHLD in 2014 for a whopping £350m.
The site has now been granted planning permission. The transformation will include 125 rooms, 88 private residences, restaurants and other amenities, with completion expected in just over three years.
The building is located close to London’s historical top spots, such as 10 Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, and has also served as an office to former chancellor David Lloyd George and senior British Army officer Lord Kitchener.
Sebastien Bazin, chairman and CEO of AccorHotels said: “This is the start of an important partnership for Raffles Hotels & Resorts and will create a new and vibrant landmark for London. This is a significant step for Raffles and a strategic addition to the Group’s Luxury portfolio. We remain committed to providing guests with unparalleled service and experience.”
Gopichand Hinduja, the Hinduja Group’s co-chairman said:
“Our new partnership with Raffles Hotels and Resorts is a significant milestone in our vision to transform the Old War Office into London’s finest luxury destination. Raffles brings a unique understanding of British heritage and tradition that will help revive this great British landmark.”
