Hindujas unveil plans for new hotel at iconic London building

The Hinduja Group today for the first time unveiled its plans for a new luxury hotel complete with a swimming pool, spa and roof top bar to be built here on the site of the historic Old War Office building, once occupied by Britain's war-time prime minister Winston Churchill.
The hotel-cum-residential complex will come up on the site of Churchill's 1,100-room Old War Office building on Whitehall, central London, which the Hindujas, Britain's wealthiest people, officially acquired in partnership with Spanish industrial company Obrascon Huarte Lain Desarrollos.
"With our Spanish partners, we have a unique vision for the Old War Office - our ambitious plans will give it a new lease of life and add a glittering new jewel to London's crown," G P Hinduja, global co-chairman of the Hinduja Group, had said at that time.

According to a planning application filed with the Westminster Council, the heritage building's new look will include a ballroom for 600 guests, a 25-metre swimming pool, spa, wine cellars and roof top bar as well as 125 bedrooms and 88 flats.
The 580,000 square feet development has been designed by London architects EPR.
"Our vision is to convert this historically important building in one of the most important conservation areas in the country, into an international landmark, mixed use luxury hotel and residential development of exceptional quality, with corresponding amenity, public access and heritage benefits," reads the planning application seen by the Evening Standard.

The building, which was sold by the UK's Ministry of Defence for 350 million pounds (USD 427 million), has also been used as the MI6 headquarters in a number of James Bond films: "Octopussy", "A View to a Kill", "Licence to Kill" and "Skyfall".
One of the four entrances to the building is still known as "The Spies Entrance" as it was used by members of MI5 and MI6 security services to enter the Old War Office discreetly.