Dorsett Hospitality International Hotel, City of London

Site

The development is located on the former Matrix Building site beside Aldgate Underground Station and adjacent to the 18th-century St Botolph-without-Aldgate Church. The constrained site includes historic foundations and is situated directly above sensitive London Underground infrastructure.

Proposed Development

The scheme delivers a twelve-storey, four-star hotel comprising:

• 275 high-quality guestrooms
• Replacement of the outdated Matrix Building
• A new architectural landmark forming part of the wider Aldgate regeneration area

Due to the existing bell-pile foundations and proximity to the Underground network, traditional removal was not feasible. Instead, the foundation strategy involved cutting off the existing piles and constructing a new raft, optimising the structural grid while respecting archaeological and engineering constraints.

Key Objectives & Benefit

• Deliver a high-quality, design-led hotel in a strategically important City gateway
• Support the Aldgate regeneration area with a prominent, elegant new building
• Use natural materials and refined proportions in line with City of London design expectations
• Manage complex engineering challenges to facilitate a taller structure on an existing constrained foundation
• Enhance the surrounding townscape and contribute to local economic activity

Consultation

The scheme underwent the City of London Corporation’s rigorous planning process, which places strong emphasis on architecture, design quality and materiality. The development team worked closely with planning officers to ensure alignment with local aspirations for the area’s regeneration.

Issues

• Existing bell-pile foundations located extremely close to the London Underground network
• Archaeological sensitivities preventing foundation removal
• Need for a structural approach that allowed the new building to be safely supported
• Townscape considerations due to adjacency to a historic church and key transport node

These challenges were resolved through the adoption of a new raft foundation engineered to meet the structural needs of the taller hotel.

Outcome

Planning permission was secured, enabling delivery of a new, high-quality hotel for Dorsett Hospitality International. Construction was completed and the development opened for trading in 2017, contributing to the wider regeneration and economic vibrancy of Aldgate.