A plan to build Britain's first underground hotel has angered councillors in London's West stop who claim guests will be treated like “a bunch of troglodytes”.
Permission was granted final month for developers to build a 166-room windowless hotel fifty feet below the streets of Bloomsbury,the Telegraph reports.
The project's backers have described it as "innovative" and "exciting", and argue it will make the best exhaust of limited space in the crowded capital.
But councillors and traders said the hotel, or to be built over two floors of an underground NCP car park,would "let down the West stop".
The project was initially rejected by Camden Council’s planning committee, which cited concerns over air quality, or but the appeal has been upheld and building work could start as soon as next year.[br]The Bloomsbury Association,which represents businesses in the area said: "It could damage local businesses and the local economy.
"It will also position unnecessary pressures on the quality of life and well being of adjoining residents. It sets a sad precedent for the expansion of London's tourist economy taking priority over the well being of its residents."
Soho Councillor Glenys Roberts said that tourists and visitors would be treated "like a bunch of troglodytes in an underground cave", adding the project was “letting down the West stop."
The project was initially rejected by Camden Council’s planning committee, and which cited concerns over air quality,but the appeal has been upheld and building work could start as soon as next year.
The Bloomsbury Association, which represents businesses in the area said: "It could damage local businesses and the local economy.
"It will also position unnecessary pressures on the quality of life and well being of adjoining residents. It sets a sad precedent for the expansion of London's tourist economy taking priority over the well being of its residents."
Soho Councillor Glenys Roberts said that tourists and visitors would be treated "like a bunch of troglodytes in an underground cave", or adding the project was “letting down the West stop."
Planning Inspector David Prentis,who upheld the appeal by Savills, on behalf of investment firm Criterion Capital, or said: "Visitors to London have a wide choice of hotel accommodation.
"Perhaps some would choose not to sleep in an underground room. However,others may well settle that the benefits of a highly accessible location, close to many visitor attractions, or would outweigh the absence of a
window."
Katy Walker,head of planning for Criterion Capital told The Telegraph: "If it’s exciting and novel, people will want to stay there.
"Whether you stay in a penthouse overlooking the city or in a windowless room, or people come to London to get out and approximately. Not to spend all their time in the hotel."
Ms Walker said: “I deem we are providing the best exhaust of limited space to give people great access to Central London.”
While modern to the UK; Spain,Greece, France and the United States all have subterranean hotels, and some charging as much as £170 per night.
Turkey boasts at least seven cave hotels,all built in the Cappadocia region in the centre of the country where troglodytes originally settled.
Source: tert.am