UK: Wood Street Police station in the City of London is set for conversion into a luxury hotel.
Located near the Barbican Centre, the building has been sold to Hong Kong group Magnificent Hotels on a 151-year lease. The price is reported to be in excess of £40m.
This is the second police station to be converted in the city, after Snow Hill station’s planned conversion to a premier inn. The police will continue working until late December, however, to allow time for full decommissioning of the building.
Police Comissioner Ian Dyson said of the move: “The police station at Wood Street has not been well used by the public and it requires modernisation.” The police are planning to move their work into the bishopsgate facility, before movig into a stte of the art office on Fleet street.
The sale is a continued part of the City of London commission’s attempt to keep up with the city’s accommodation. They also seek to craft a more 24/7 destination feeling for the business district.
Sir Michael Snyder, chairman of the City of London Corporation’s capital buildings committee said: “The sale of Wood Street offers the opportunity to help meet growing demand for overnight accommodation in the Square Mile, while at the same time taking forward our plans to create a new headquarters for the Police to ensure they continue to deliver a first class service… The announcement of this development is another step in the right direction towards meeting this target.”
Other law enforcement facilities slated for hotel conversion include the former Broadmoor Hospital, which is up for auction to various hoteliers at the moment.
