The BT Tower will be modified into a hotel after being sold for £275million.
Having been under the BT name for 40 years, the iconic landmark in Fitzrovia has taken on lesser importance to the operation of the company’s networks as services become increasingly digitised.
It will now be redeveloped over several years with BT equipment gradually removed from the building ready for the American-based hotel operator MCR to takeover.
Brent Mathews, property director at BT Group, said: “The BT Tower sits at the heart of London and we’ve been immensely proud to be the owners of this important landmark since 1984.
“It’s played a vital role in carrying the nation’s calls, messages and TV signals, but increasingly we’re delivering content and communication via other means.
“This deal with MCR will enable BT Tower to take on a new purpose, preserving this iconic building for decades to come.”
MCR will now work with London-based design and architecture specialists Heatherwick Studio, to assess how to modify the space – something that forms part of a lengthy design development period that will allow local communities to engage with the plans.
Tyler Morse, CEO and owner of MCR Hotels, added: “We are proud to preserve this beloved building and will work to develop proposals to tell its story as an iconic hotel, opening its doors for generations to enjoy.”
The sale is just the second time the Grade II listed, 580-foot tower has changed hands since its 1965 unveiling and has been closed to the public since Butlins’ lease for the top-of-the-tower viewing platforms expired in 1980.
There are also hopes that the development might see the restoration of the iconic revolving restaurant which shut in 1971 after a bombing.
Proposals for the refurbishment will be released to the public in due course.
Featured image credit: It’s No Game via Flickr under CC BY 2.0
