Spanish hotel and property company Grupo Urvasco has had its application to redevelop the historic Citibank House in WC2 deferred following a row about affordable housing.
The Madrid-based private company wants to redevelop the 160,000 sq ft (15,400 sq m) office building as a 166-room hotel, 92 flats and ground floor retail.
Westminster said the developer’s offer of a £3.7m commuted payment in lieu of affordable housing provision did not meet the level demanded by its policies but Grupo Urvasco said it had arrived at this sum by using the toolkit in the mayor’s London Plan.
The Foster-designed development at 336-337 Strand would be Grupo Urvasco’s first scheme in the UK.
GVA Grimley, which is advising the developer on planning, said it hoped to take the scheme back to committee in January.
References: EGi News 13/12/04
