Luxury facilities are envisaged

A DECISION on a bid to transform a former MI5 HQ into an exclusive club, backed by a former prime minister, was adjourned for the second time in two months after a lawyer acting for neighbours was taken seriously ill the night before the hearing.

Westminster City Council’s licensing committee met yesterday, Thursday, to discuss plans to transform the Leconfield House office block in Curzon Street, Mayfair, into a seven-floor private members’ venue selling alcohol until 5am.

The Metropolitan Police are among those objecting to the project that has been promoted by the Conservative Liz Truss as “a strategic nexus for a global network of pro-growth leaders”.

The application said the “target of the club is both domestic and international but with an eye on bringing expats back to the UK, following Brexit”.

In an objection, the Chesterfield House residents’ association had said: “Mayfair village would greatly suffer from this proposal, which would generate noise and relative chaos to a peaceful area.”

Documents with the plans show imposing boardroom suites and luxurious dining facilities with modern art clad walls and marble floors.

A design vision for the proposed venue

The application could not be heard after a barrister representing the building’s neighbours in Chesterfield House, a block that flanks the building in Curzon Street, fell suddenly ill. A junior legal rep argued that pressing ahead with the meeting would lead to accusations of “irreversible prejudice” for the sub-committee that would be “in breach of its statutory aims”.

A lawyer for the applicant, Leconfield House Ltd, said it was “unfortunate” about the illness but there were “significant commercial considerations” from agreeing a further delay, and added: “We are all here today. We have four expert witnesses. It’s probably fair to say that cases of this kind are often decided on paper. It is our feeling that it would not be unjust to proceed as planned. If I had become ill overnight, someone else would just step into my shoes.”

The application had already been adjourned once – for six weeks – back in January.

Ms Truss, the shortest-serving PM in British history, teamed up with financier Robert Tchenguiz to launch the ultra-exclusive business. It has been reported that there will be a £500,000 joining fee for founding members.

Members will have access to “the largest boardroom in Mayfair”, meeting rooms, and “acoustically sealed pods and workstations” over six floors.

There will also be a “unique AI platform connecting members of the Leconfield community”.

There will also be luxury bars and restaurants on the ground floor, events space in the basement, and Japanese-themed roof terrace that have concerned the building’s millionaire neighbours.

The police objected to the scheme saying it would undermine their “prevention of crime and disorder” efforts.

The sub-committee ag-reed the adjournment “in the interest of justice” to allow the barrister time to recover and a new suitable date would be set.