The site in Belgravia

ITS cells were once home to some of Westminster’s most infamous crooks, staying in the cells at her majesty’s pleasure.

But now the abandoned Belgravia Police Station is attracting a more aspirational type of clientele.

Built 1993, the nick is due to be refurbished into a 206-bedroom luxury hotel, according to plans expected to get the green light at a meeting next week.

The police station was shut down and sold off by the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan for £75million in 2022 to The Other Group, for the exclusive hotelier’s third location in the capital, following ventures in South Kensington and Covent Garden.

There have been “strong objections” from residents in 12 flats in Fountain Court who will suffer daylight losses, according to a report from Westminster City Council ahead of the planning meeting on Tuesday.

It said: “Strong objections have been received from neighbouring residents, predominantly from Fountain Court, immediately adjacent to the site, on land use and amenity grounds.”

But neighbourhood groups in the area are supporting the seven-storey project, which will include demolition of the building from the current second floor down and replacing the façade with a white-brick design.

The Belgravia Society said designs had been “developed in a holistic manner” and that the development “will greatly improve the area, as the site currently sits vacant”.

The Belgravia Neighbourhood Forum said they would “generally prefer new buildings to be more restrained… but accept that the proposed design reflects the height of other tall buildings in Buckingham Palace Road”.

Several objections about height and loss of light were submitted when the developer lodged an application for the site last year, leading to it being withdrawn.

The plans have been revised in a way that has satisfied the city council.

“The proposed hotel is considered an appropriate use in this central area of Westminster and with the imposition of conditions it is considered that it can operate without causing a significant adverse impact on residential amenity or local environmental quality,” the council said.

The police station was originally in Gerald Road where it housed some of the most infamous criminals including Lord Lucan and the great train robber Ronnie Biggs.

In 1993 the building was sold and converted into a house, with the police station moving to the new building in Buckingham Palace Road – that is now set for demolition.

Earlier this year Westminster councillors granted permission to demolish Savile Row police station and replace it with a tailors’ academy.

The sales of police stations by the Mayor of London have raised an estimated £1billion for City Hall in the last 15 years.