Councillors have voted to grant planning permission for a Hampton by Hilton hotel at the Imperial War Museum (IWM) in Duxford, Cambridgeshire. This is part of a growing trend for museum hotels.
This is the second time that councillors have approved the hotel project at IWM Duxford after an earlier approval was withdrawn due to a council administrative error (via Cambridgeshire Live).
The Hampton by Hilton will have six storeys and 168 bedrooms, as well as a gym, bar, lounge and outdoor terrace on the top floor. The hotel is expected to open in 2023.
South Cambridgeshire District Council’s planning committee approved the application on June 9. IWM Duxford’s hotel will be built and operated by Propiteer Hotels. The museum will receive an unspecified percentage of the hotel’s revenue.
IWM’s executive director of operations and commerce, John Brown, said a “minority” of revenue generated would go towards the museum, adding that it would be “material to the IWM in terms of our running costs”.
“£100,000 regular income to the museum is a material concern to us, and is worthwhile,” Brown added. “And we expect this to generate far more than that.”
Councillors Heather Williams, Richard Williams and Deborah Roberts voted against approving the application. Williams said the design makes the building look “out of place”.
Growing trend for museum hotels
Last year, the Imperial War Museums launched the IWM Institute, an innovation hub home to discussions, podcasts, debates, and original research projects.
In addition, plans are in development for a new IWM Institute Research Centre in London. This will be the first of three centres at IWM London, IWM Duxford and IWM North.
IWM is also investing £30.7m in new Second World War Galleries and Holocaust Galleries at IWM London, scheduled to open on October 20, 2021.
Images: Propiteer Hotels Duxford Limited/GJR Architects
