Dominus has secured planning consent from Camden Council to transform a telephone exchange at 123 Judd Street into a 240-key hotel.
Designed by Stiff + Trevillion, the ground floor of the building will be opened up and revitalised to include a hotel restaurant, café, and bar, and a newly landscaped courtyard will create a connection between the building and the surrounding public realm. The design retains the entire substructure and 80% of the existing building.
Once operational, the hotel will be managed by Dominus Hospitality and the company will launch the Camden Hospitality Academy on-site in partnership with The Springboard Charity and supported by Hilton, which will offer training, work placements and employment opportunities for local residents.
Jay Ahluwalia, principal director at Dominus, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to revitalise an underused building just minutes from King’s Cross at a time when visitor demand in London continues to grow. Drawing on our track record of sensitively repurposing buildings across the capital, we will transform the existing telephone exchange into a high quality hotel. Through our partnership with Springboard, the Camden Hospitality Academy will create new skills, training and employment opportunities for local young people.”
Matt Williams, director of hotels at Dominus Hospitality, added: “Across our growing portfolio of hotels, we’ve seen average occupancy of more than 90% driven by our commitment to curating an exceptional guest experience. London remains one of the world’s most visited cities and demand for well-located hotels to explore all the capital has to offer will continue to grow.”
Mike Stiff, chairman of Stiff + Trevillion, said: “We’re delighted that plans for 123 Judd Street have been approved, allowing for the sensitive transformation of the existing telephone exchange into a thoughtfully designed hotel. The approved plans will include vibrant public spaces such as a landscaped courtyard, café, and active frontages, contributing positively to the streetscape and improving the connection of the building with the surrounding public realm.”
Chris Gamm, CEO of The Springboard Charity, added: “Having spent many years working in Camden, we’re proud to be partnering with Dominus for an academy that will equip local young people with essential skills, training, and pathways into meaningful employment in the hospitality industry and beyond. Last year in London, our programmes supported over 400 individuals in unlocking their potential and it’s partnerships like this that enable us to continue making a lasting impact.”
