Planning approved for Maldron Kensington Olympia Hotel
21.07.2026
A major mixed-use transformation
The approved scheme will transform the existing 1980s office complex, known as Liberty House, into a 371-key, four-star Maldron hotel and approximately 13,800 sq m GIA of life sciences and office accommodation.
Elliott Wood is providing structural engineering, civil engineering, transport planning and sustainability services, helping turn a complex set of technical, planning and site constraints into a coordinated and deliverable development strategy.
Initially conceived as a full demolition scheme, the design evolved through detailed investigation and analysis to retain significant elements of the existing structure. The western building will be converted into a hotel, with a lightweight steel-framed vertical extension designed to limit additional loads and maximise reuse of the existing foundations.
The eastern building will be replaced with a new life sciences facility, where the stringent floor-to-floor height and vibration requirements of laboratory use could not be accommodated within the existing structure.
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“This development forms part of the continued evolution of Kensington Olympia as a major commercial, cultural and hospitality destination, building on significant recent investment in the area while delivering premium office accommodation, new hotel capacity and high-quality public realm improvements.”
Unlocking a viable, lower-carbon development
A substantial proportion of the shared basement and approximately 1-metre-thick raft foundation will also be retained, avoiding the removal and replacement of around 3,500 m³ of concrete.
Detailed settlement analysis and construction-sequence modelling are helping manage the interfaces between demolition, retained structure and new construction, while maintaining the stability and performance of both buildings.
By combining structural analysis with multidisciplinary planning and sustainability expertise, Elliott Wood has helped unlock a more viable, lower-carbon development strategy that responds to the distinct performance requirements of hotel and life sciences uses.
The planning approval reflects the strength of the collaborative design process and represents an important step towards delivering a high-quality mixed-use development for Hammersmith.
