A DEVELOPER wants to transform the former HM Passport Office in Victoria into a 357-room low budget hotel.

But Zedwell’s plans for Globe House, in Eccleston Square, have been knocked back at the first hurdle.

Its change-of-use application was rejected after facing strong objections from residents and council officers about the potential loss of office space.

Anthony Smith, who lives next to Globe House and used to work in the building, raised concerns about anti-social behaviour, littering and how the changes would affect the neighbourhood, adding: “There are already enough hotels.”

The old Victoria Passport Office relocated to Docklands last year.

Westminster City Council officers recommended refusal on grounds that the applicant was wrong to claim there was not enough demand for office space.

The meeting heard the council believed that, despite the rise in people working from home since Covid-19, there was still high demand for low- to middle-priced rentable office space.

The crux of the niche pl­-anning debate was about whether the building should be classed as a “mixed use” office or “sui generis”.

If it was sui generis – Latin for “of its own kind” – the council’s policies on preserving office space could be circumvented, the applicant argued.

At times, officers appeared frustrated with councillors on the committee who did not appear to fully grasp all the details.

Conservative Lancaster Gate councillor Laila Cunningham (pictured) told the meeting: “If there was no demand for office space, that building will be left empty.

“Since Covid there has been a huge reduction in need for office space. The size of the building is so big, to fill all that, I can see the challenge. To fill that is obviously going to take a lot longer than a low- budget hotel.”

The applicant said: “What does one do with a redundant passport centre building?

“Owing to the building’s age there are limited options.

“The only viable use of this building is a hotel. Zedwell brand is a lifestyle hotel. It provides a high quality good night’s stay at an acceptable stay. It would be a fantastic addition to Victoria.”