Regal London secures planning permission for aparthotel in Whitechapel

730 565 Hamish Kilburn
  • 0
Regal London secures planning permission for aparthotel in Whitechapel

Regal London has secured planning permission in Whitechapel for a 68,795 sq ft, 14-storey aparthotel…

Developer Regal London has been granted planning permission for an aparthotel at 73-77 Commercial Road, Whitechapel. Operated by Dublin-based Staycity, through its ‘Wilde’ brand, the project is being developed by Regal London and designed by Dexter Moren Associates.

The planning approval comes while demand for luxury hotels in the Whitechapel area rises as a result of the new transport line, The Elizabeth Line, slated to open in Autumn 2019. A long-term lease of the property has been agreed between Regal London and Staycity. Iceni Projects provided the planning consultancy to Regal London and Staycity.

The property will be the second ‘Wilde Aparthotel by Staycity’ in London, following the opening of the first on The Strand in March 2018.

When complete, the Wilde Aparthotel will occupy 68,795 sq ft over 14-storeys and offer 156-bed accommodation, with each studio or one-bed apartment having its own kitchen facilities, as well as in-room technology including a 43” flat screen smart TV and touch control panels for lighting and air conditioning.

Onsite facilities will include a 24-hour reception, guest lounge, fitness room, weekly housekeeping, laundry room, and a café open to both guests and the general public, providing active frontage onto Commercial Road. There will be a chamfered corner at the junction of Greenfield Road and Commercial Road to maximise footfall and provide an engaging public realm directly outside the site.

“Staycity’s second Wilde offering is set to become a valuable asset for local professionals, the residents of East London and guests alike, said Simon De Friend, Joint CEO, Regal London. “Tower Hamlets’ vision for Whitechapel, alongside the pending arrival of Crossrail, has spurred regeneration along Commercial Road. New residential and commercial offerings are continuing to emerge, attracted by the proximity to the City and Old Street as well as the thriving arts and culture scene.

“Wilde is the latest chapter in Whitechapel’s transformation and as Regal London’s first purely leisure project, it signals a milestone in the company’s strategy to pursue more hotel-led developments in the capital.”

Neil Short, Staycity Development Director, London said: “This letting demonstrates that Staycity is an increasingly viable alternative to office and residential uses in central London. Commercial Road is a great fit for our Wilde brand with its close proximity to the City as well as hipster East End haunts, making it ideally placed for both business and leisure customers. Well served by rail and tube services guests will also benefit from the new Elizabeth Line opening in nearby Whitechapel station in 2019.”

The project is due to break ground in summer 2019 and the hotel is expected to be complete by 2021.

Hamish Kilburn / 03.04.2019

Share

  • 0

You might also like

Fun fact: I’m usually the person friends rely on to organise trips, schedules, and group plans.

Workhighlights: Successfully coordinating events from planning through to delivery and seeing everything come together on the day.

Fun fact: I’m a keen cyclist and will happily bore people with copious amounts of cycling chat. My top cycling experience (so far) would have to be riding in the spectacular mountains of Crete.

Work highlights: Charles joined Forum Events in 2022. With a background in publishing, editorial media and events, Charles brings a wealth of experience to his role as Senior Production Manager. Having being involved with SPACE from the outset, he is excited to see the brand grow and develop.

Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

Fun fact: Katy has spent years perfecting all kinds of accents and loves a good impersonation!

Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher at SPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.

Together these platforms offer a comprehensive 360-degree service encompassing digital media, print publishing, and live events – providing unparalleled value to advertisers, partners, and readers alike.