Claridge's plans huge roof and basement expansion

Claridge's hotel in London has submitted a planning application to Westminster City Council to add an additional two storeys and five new basement levels to the building.

The five-red-AA star, 197-bedroom hotel intends to construct two new storeys to the Grade II-listed building to provide 40 additional bedrooms. It also plans to excavate at basement level under the art deco portion of the hotel to create space for new restaurants, bars, function rooms, leisure and spa facilities, ancillary and back of house facilities.

The Maybourne Hotel Group, which operates the Berkeley and Connaught hotels as well as Claridge's, was acquired by Constellation Hotels (owned by sovereign wealth fund Qatar Holding) in April 2015. Former general manager Thomas Kochs departed Claridge's after nearly five years as general manager in November 2015 and was replaced by Paul Jackson in January this year.

A spokesperson for Claridge's said: "Claridge's is excited about our future development plans to put in to place state of the art, sustainable technology and systems which will further enhance services for our guests, staff and neighbours, taking this iconic Mayfair hotel's vision into the next century."

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