The site in Belgravia that is to see a luxury hotel development

PLEAS from social housing tenants came second best to a luxury hotel developer at a meeting that was described by a planning chief as “not exclusively democratic”.

Council tenants in Fountain Court in Buckingham Palace Road had asked Westminster City Council to reject the 206-room scheme that will see the demolition of the Belgravia police station.

The police station has been empty since it was sold off to the Other House group by the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan in 2022.

Belgravia’s community groups had backed the scheme but residents in Fountain Court described it as “life-limiting” and questioned the city council’s “moral duty”.

Lorna McMahon, representing tenants of Fountain Court, said: “Our rooms are already very poorly lit.

“Any more loss of light will result in a serious impact on the amenity of the rooms.

“Fountain Court is social housing. It should be afforded greater protection.

“The residents do not have the power or resources to simply sell up and move as a result of this severe impact on their wellbeing and amenity and will therefore be forced to live in dark conditions which will require artificial lighting for large parts of the day and year.”

And she added: “There is a demonstrable harm to social housing tenants.

“The council has a moral duty to refuse the application and require the applicant to come back with something less harmful.”

Thomas Rossiter, also speaking from Fountain Court, said: “Many tenants are disturbed, extremely anxious, and frightened about these proposals, which could be life-limiting and life-changing; 43 flats will lose out significantly. The quality of life will be severely impacted and diminished.

“All tenants will suffer from noise and traffic. The council has a duty of care.”

The meeting heard that an original application for the 1990s police station was rejected because the height of the proposed building was considered too high.

But 30 years on, the new hotel – on the same scale as the police station’s original plans – was judged acceptable.

Monica Lucas, from the Belgravia Neighbourhood Forum, praised the developers for an “extensive consultation” with residents, and added: “The use of a hotel is suitable for the location. It will create an anchor-point in an isolated part of Belgravia. It will be a positive enhancement to Ebury Square Gardens.

“We would want buildings in Belgravia to be lower in height; however we accept the commercial realities that sometimes in order to be viable a larger building is required.

“If it’s not this building, it could be another that’s even higher.”

Cllr Paul Fisher: “I think design is keeping with Belgravia area. The architects have gone a long way to try and address residents’ concerns.

“It is regrettable and we are all sad to see this loss of light. It’s worth remembering that this is not an exclusively democratic process. The buck doesn’t stop with us. If we would refuse this application it would go to a planning inspectorate.”

Belgravia ward councillor Rachael Robathan said: “Very much welcome the work to safeguard the plane tree. We have got these gardens that are lovely.

“The impact in terms of the light is strongly felt. Any development on this site is bound to have an impact. On balance, I vote to approve.”

Committee chair Ruth Bush said: “As always it is very regrettable when light is lost. Welcome adjustments have been made. It is a pity that buildings are closer together than they might have been. On balance, there are no grounds for refusal.”