City of Westminster (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Westminster is set for major transformation with new luxury hotels, Harrods offices, and a world-class film studio as part of ambitious redevelopment plans.
Another year of significant transformation for Central London’s main developments has been 2025. 144 new houses and adult social care apartments on Harrow Road were approved by Westminster City Council in the first seven months of the year, despite worries that workers could see into bedrooms in the massive office complex adjacent to Harrods.
The council also approved the construction of a new restaurant and two more stories at Vogue’s previous headquarters. It coincides with contentious plans to pedestrianize Oxford Street, which include drop-off locations, bike pathways, and a “world-class” public area, announced by London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
With broad new powers granted to him by the government, he will also be able to decide when pubs, clubs, and bars in the city close. Meanwhile, proposals to regulate pedicabs in London for the first time are being pushed forward by Transport for London.
Seventy-five percent of respondents to a survey released by the transport authorities in June regarding its consultation to regulate rickshaws in the capital said they did not feel safe riding in one.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has reviewed some of the most important planning applications that have been granted thus far in 2025.
Westminster City Council gave its approval to a high-end boutique hotel in Fitzrovia in February.
The Newman Hotel, located off Goodge Street, requested permission from the municipality to provide a 24-hour service for both residents and visitors.
The upscale restaurant, which received building consent in 2018, also plans to run a cocktail bar and a contemporary brasserie with European influences for both hotel guests and walk-ins every day of the week. The licensing application predicts that most nights the venues will remain open until midnight.
A rooftop suite with a wide private patio and a “wellness area” are among the anticipated 81 rooms at the Newman Hotel, which will be situated at 49-57 Newman Street in Fitzrovia. Five one-bedroom units will be available through a separate street entrance.
The wellness spa will take up an entire floor, and guests will be able to reserve “luxury” event spaces including dining and meeting rooms. The application claims that the spa “embraces Nordic simplicity, blending minimalism” and features a variety of heated cabins, a hydrotherapy pool, an active salt treatment room, a meditation studio, and a gym.
How will the new developments like luxury hotels impact Westminster’s local economy?
Westminster already plays a large role in London’s tourism industry, attracting 25 million visitors annually. The addition of luxury hotels will enhance high-end accommodation options, increasing appeal to affluent travelers and business visitors, thus driving up spending in hotels, restaurants, and related services.
Hotel developments tend to generate substantial employment opportunities. In Westminster, hospitality and food services already make up a large share of local enterprises, with many hotels employing medium and large workforces. New luxury hotels would expand these jobs directly and indirectly in the broader service economy.
High-end developments tend to draw additional commercial and retail investment, promoting economic and social regeneration in Westminster’s mixed-use urban environment.