Soho Estates has received planning permission to convert office space on a prime site on Leicester Square, London WC1, back to its original use as a hotel.
The 1890s-built Queens House block which is also home to a casino, restaurant and nightclub, which will be retained was originally the elaborate, 100-bedroom Queens Hotel.
The upper floors of the Portland stone building next door to the Empire cinema were converted to office use in 1936. Soho Estates submitted plans to turn the 40,000 ft² (3,716 m²) of offices into an 84-bedroom Premier Inn in October last year. Gerald Eve advised on planning.
Kieron Hodgson, Associate in Gerald Eve's London planning team said: "This is an important development for Soho Estates and Whitbread, two long standing clients of Gerald Eve. We also worked very closely with Westminster City Council and are very pleased to be so closely involved in its exciting vision of regeneration for Leicester Square, the heart of the capital's entertainment district.
"We have also secured planning permissions on McAleer & Rushe's £200-million W Hotel-led development and the Leicester Square Co-Ownership Group's Odeon hotel scheme."
Soho Estates hopes to open the new Premier Inn in spring 2012.
Cropper & Co advised Premier Inn.
Source: MJ2 Limited
