London property developers have revealed plans to build a new hotel on a patch of land at the foot of Wembley Stadium’s steps.
The ‘meanwhile’ space has been used as a market square and children’s soft play since 2022. Wembley developers, Quitain, has now announced it will submit a formal application to Brent Council early next year.
The company had to wait until the new Olympic Steps leading to the national stadium had been built before bringing the proposals forward. The plot, which is located at the bottom of the steps and adjacent to Brent Council’s Civic Centre building, has outline planning permission for either a hotel or office building under the 2011 Masterplan.
It currently comprises the temporary ‘meanwhile’ spaces of Market Square and Samovar Space – which includes the children’s play area.
The CGIs show the hotel entrance and lobby opening out on to Samovar Square, with retail or restaurants on Olympic Way.
Samvar Square will be “combined into a space” for public use and events, with changes to the pedestrian link to Wembley Park Boulevard, according to the developers.
Brent Council’s Cabinet had previously approved a £12.1m contribution towards the improvements provided Quitain didn’t pursue a development with the same parameters as displayed in the outline planning permission, as well as working with the local authority to create a new square outside the Civic Centre Library.
Wembley Hotel CGI. The public square would be designed to host a number of activities, including an outdoor cinema, Image Credit: Flanagan Lawrence/Quitain. Permission to use with all LDRS partners
The planning permission does allow for a smaller pavilion building and canopy to be built next to Engineers Way but Quitain has said it won’t be doing this in order to deliver a larger public square. The development will also not be built to the full height and scale of the original plans.
The cherry trees that can currently be found in Market Square will be retained and reconfigured as part of the new layout of the public space, which will also allow for activities to take place including market stalls, an outdoor cinema, and festival stage.
Quitain has said that engagement with residents and other stakeholders will take place prior to the formal application being submitted, which is expected to happen in February or March of next year. If approved, developers expect to start work at the end of 2026 at the earliest – with construction likely to take between two and three years to complete.
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