Public consultation on proposals for a retrofit-first hotel at Northumberland House

Bringing a long-vacant Midtown building back into productive use at 303-306 High Holborn

The Queensway Group is bringing forward sustainable retrofit proposals to transform an empty office building into a high-quality hotel in the heart of Midtown.

Northumberland House has been partly empty for years and is likely to be fully vacant by 2027, no longer meeting modern office needs.

We propose a sensitive, internal-only retrofit to create a 105-bedroom Point A Hotel with welcoming ground-floor space. The proposals will activate this part of High Holborn and support the local economy by bringing new visitors and activity to the area.

Before submitting a planning application to Camden Council, we want to hear from local residents, workers and businesses to help shape our proposals.

The Site

Northumberland House is an eight-storey office building at 303-306 High Holborn, close to Holborn Station and surrounded by shops, offices, restaurants, cultural destinations and several universities

The building is within Camden’s Central Activity Zone, an area characterised by a mix of business, tourism and activity throughout the day.

Although well located, the building itself is outdated and underperforming. With deep floorplates, limited windows, low ceilings and an ageing façade, its office spaces no longer meet required standards. More than half of the building is already empty, and full vacancy is expected by 2027.

Refurbishing and repurposing the building presents an important opportunity to bring life back to this part of High Holborn and ensure the building continues to make a positive contribution to the area.

Historic images of 125-133 Old Brompton Road

1938 Aerial Photograph (Britain from Above / Historic England)

Photograph of south side of Old Brompton Road (including the Site at Glen House) 1951 Historic England Archives

We want to hear your views on the proposals for Northumberland House

Our Vision

Our vision is to provide 100% affordable new homes on a brownfield site in Enfield, creating a thriving, liveable environment with new green spaces, a nursery and a community cafe.

A new 105-room hotel bringing smart, affordable accommodation to Holborn

Creating local jobs and generate £2.5m in annual visitor spending in the local area

Retrofit-first upgrade that reuses the building and cuts carbon

Activated ground floor with welcoming restaurant and lounge space

A long-term, sustainable future that keeps Northumberland House in active use

Safer, more accessible facilities that bring the building up to modern standards

The Team

The proposals are led by a team with extensive hospitality and design delivery experience.

The Queensway Group, a family-owned hotel business with over 50 years in the UK market, operates twelve hotels nationwide, including seven in London under its Point A, Montagu Place, and Sloane Place brands. The Manser Practice brings specialist hotel design expertise, with projects such as the Sketch retrofit and Staybridge Suites in Vauxhall.

Together, they are committed to a high-quality upgrade that respects the building’s heritage while ensuring long-term value.

Our Proposals

Our vision is to provide 100% affordable new homes on a brownfield site in Enfield, creating a thriving, liveable environment with new green spaces, a nursery and a community cafe.

Street elevation (upper ground level)

A Retrofit-First Approach

The proposals convert the interior into a modern hotel while retaining the building’s height, massing, and footprint, with only minor changes to doors and windows for layout, ventilation, and accessibility. This approach avoids demolition, reduces embodied carbon, and reuses most of the existing fabric. Internally, floors will be upgraded for safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency, ensuring Northumberland House is renewed sustainably and sensitively within the Conservation Area.

Precedent Imagery of Restaurant Area in Point A Hotels

A More Welcoming and Active Ground Floor

The current ground floor feels closed off. The proposals will create a vibrant frontage with a hotel lobby, bar, and lounge opening onto the street. Separate service entrances, along with restaurant and walk-in areas, will activate High Holborn, creating a welcoming, modern, and safer pedestrian environment.

Point A Hotel Glasgow

A New High-quality Hotel for Holborn

The building will become a 105-room Point A Hotel, offering compact, comfortable, and efficiently laid-out rooms with quality beds, fast Wi-Fi, and modern essentials. Its central location, close to six Tube stations, bus routes, and major attractions, will generate steady footfall. The existing floor layout suits hotel rooms, allowing beneficial reuse while preserving the historic exterior.

Precedent Imagery

Economic and Community Benefits

Reusing Northumberland House will support the local economy, generating around £2.5 million in annual visitor spending and over £900,000 in Gross Value Added. The retrofit will create approximately 45 construction jobs and 20 permanent hospitality roles, replacing an underused office with a vibrant, well-managed hotel that boosts the long-term vitality of High Holborn.

Have your say

We are still in the early design stages of our proposals.

To this end, we would like to invite the local community to take part in a public consultation to hear your views and feedback, so we can ensure we can take the needs of the community into account.

We are hosting a public drop-in exhibition on Thursday 16th October, 3pm – 7pm, where you can view more detailed information about the proposals, speak to the project team and share your feedback with us.

You can also fill in our online survey below.

Drop into our public exhibition to find out more information, meet the project team and have your say!

On site

xxxxxxx

16th

Octobre, Thursday

3 - 7

pm

Join our Online Webinar

We’re inviting local residents, workers and businesses to learn more about the proposals for Northumberland House This will be a chance to view the plans, speak directly with the project team and share your thoughts before a planning application is submitted.

We are keen to engage with you and hear your thoughts on our proposals