The scheme, designed by ReardonSmith Architects, for a site in Newman Street has been approved by Westminster City Council.

The plans involve the demolition of an existing office building, which was Abta’s headquarters until the late 1990s, and the creation of a new hotel with 100 rooms across six storeys including a penthouse level with accessible garden.

The development will also feature three basements to house the hotel’s restaurant, bar and wellness facilities.

Leeu Collection had originally secured permission to convert the existing building in Newman Street into a hotel, with a planned opening date of 2019, before deciding to completely redevelop the site instead. The company will operate the hotel itself.

Leeu currently runs three five-star boutique properties in the Franschhoek Valley area near Cape Town in South Africa, as well as Linthwaite House in the Lake District.

ReardonSmith, which specialises in the rebuilding and restoration of five-star hotels, has worked on projects for several landmark properties in London including The Lanesborough, The Savoy and Four Seasons Park Lane.

Sidharth Bhatia, associate director, ReardonSmith said: “Our scheme for the Newman Street hotel respects the heritage of the area which is renowned for being home to the Fitzrovia set of intelligentsia, economists and scientists in the 19th and 20th century, as well as some of the world’s most respected educational, cultural and medical institutions to this very day.

“We are truly excited to create a new hotel in Fitzrovia that, like its context, will be individualistic in its nature and uncompromised by corporate rules.”