The Hillingdon Council has granted planning permission for the redevelopment of the Ariel Hotel, located at 118 Bath Road, Hayes, near Heathrow Airport.
The proposal involves significant reconfiguration, alteration, and extension of the existing hotel, which currently has 186 guest rooms. The development aims to intensify the hotel’s use by adding a two-storey upward extension, increasing the total number of rooms to 299.
This expansion will involve reconfiguring the ground floor area, currently housing a games room, reception, and plant room, to provide additional seating for the hotel’s restaurant. A new outdoor amenity space of 459 sq. m. will be created on the restaurant’s roof at the first-floor level. The hotel’s gross external floor area will increase from 7,540 sq. m. to 11,070 sq. m., marking an expansion of 3,530 sq. m.
Additionally, the plan includes constructing a new four-storey apartment hotel on the northern car park land, which will house 99 units. This development will follow the demolition of existing single-storey garages and the removal of some hotel car parking spaces. The new building will have a gross external floor area of 4,730 sq. m. To accommodate these changes, the car park will be reduced by 63 spaces, from 118 to 55. The proposal also includes introducing approximately 540 sq. m. of soft landscaping around the apartment hotel and the site’s perimeter, along with green roofs totalling approximately 1,720 sq. m. on both the extended hotel and the new apartment hotel.
The Ariel Hotel, originally built in 1960 and designed by Russell Diplock & Associates, was Britain’s first significant airport hotel. It has undergone several ownership changes and is currently operating under the Best Western brand. The hotel’s unique circular design and historical significance as the first hotel at London Airport add to its prominence.
The redevelopment aims to modernise the facilities while maintaining its historical essence. The council’s approval is subject to a section 106 legal agreement and specific conditions, ensuring that the development aligns with local planning policies and contributes positively to the area’s infrastructure and environment.
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