WYG Helps Secure Planning Approval For Super Yacht Hotel Project

Multidisciplinary consultant provides lead planning services for Dubai developer Aquiva for a floating hotel at London's Thames Quay.

London, Greater London (PRWEB) January 12, 2009 -- Leading planning consultant WYG have secured planning permission for Dubai based developer Aquiva to permanently moor the world's largest purpose built luxury floating hotel in the heart of London's Docklands.

Floating hotel

This prestigious destination will play a major role in attracting tourists to London and will provide a new benchmark for luxury hotel development throughout the UK. It will also provide a welcome and remarkable addition to accommodation for the London 2012 Olympics.

The planning application was submitted by WYG Planning & Design to London Borough of Tower Hamlets in July 2008, following extensive pre-application consultation with both the Council and public. WYG Environment also advised on ecology, while WYG Engineering consultants advised on sustainability and renewable energy. The application of land based sustainability criteria to a floating hotel required WYG Engineering to adopt an innovative approach which met with the approval of the GLA. Highways, traffic and accessibility advice was provided by Savell Bird and Axon, a WYG company.

The application proposed the permanent mooring of a 170m long floating hotel, designed in a manner indistinguishable from an ocean going superyacht, near the Barclays Group Headquarters in Canary Wharf. The vessel will provide 180 luxury suites accommodating 300 guests with ancillary mixed uses over seven decks (five of which will sit above water level). Facilities will also include a private members' club, luxury spa, retail, business functions and several bars and restaurants. Vehicular access will be from Marsh Wall while a new pedestrian swing bridge across Millwall Cutting will provide continuous pedestrian access along the entire southern side of South Dock.

The Tower Hamlets Borough Council resolved to grant planning permission in October 2008, and the application was subsequently referred to the GLA. The Mayor has since directed the Council to issue planning permission in accordance with its earlier resolution.

Mary Davidson, Planning Director said, "We are delighted that the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and the Greater London Authority have welcomed Aquiva's vision for this unique project. We have utilised a wide range of WYG's expertise for this project, with our planning team driving the application. Our unusual approach to apply land based sustainability criteria to this project was welcomed and approved by the GLA's own renewable energy specialists."

Davidson continued, "This prestigious destination will play a major role in attracting tourists to London and will provide a new benchmark for luxury hotel development throughout the UK. It will also provide a welcome and remarkable addition to accommodation for the London 2012 Olympics."

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