Hotel plan for H SBC Canary Wharf tower

The landmark HSBC tower in Canary Wharf could house an 180-bedroom hotel, documents handed to Tower Hamlets Council suggest.

The Qatar Investment Authority which owns 8 Canada Square wants to remodel the tower after HSBC moves out from its global headquarters next year, according to Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Although a formal planning application has not yet been submitted, the papers show plans for a new hotel at levels 33 to 41 with levels 42 and 43 used for food, drink and leisure.

The base, middle and upper levels may also be remodelled into terraces as part of makeover of the 45-level block.

HSBC confirmed in 2023 that it would leave the tower by 2027 when its current lease expires.

The bank moved into the 200m high (656ft) new building in 2002.

At the time the skyscraper designed by Foster + Partners was the second tallest building in the UK and was aimed to cater for 8,500 people.

Canary Wharf Group, which owns the business district, released images in July 2024 of how a remodelled tower might look.

Neither it nor the Qatar Investment Authority have yet applied for planning permission.

In March, Canary Wharf Group asked the council if an application needed an environmental impact assessment for plans for shopping, leisure and a hotel in the tower, alongside offices.

The request said: "It is anticipated that the ground levels (lower ground and upper ground) will provide retail, the ground floor mezzanine and level 1 will provide lobby and leisure arrival and levels 2 – 32 will remain as workspace."

The document added that although a hotel is proposed for upper floors they may also be used for offices.

It also suggested that a "detailed planning application" would follow

Council planning officers said it would not need an environmental impact assessment.

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