Savoy Cinema site to house new East Acton hotel

A FIVE-STOREY hotel will be built on the former site of the historic Savoy Cinema in East Acton.

On the junction of Western Avenue and Old Oak Road, the 116-room hotel will also have a restaurant, a bar looking out on to the Westway, a gym, meeting rooms, 20 customer parking spaces and a clock tower.

Neighbours had objected to the plans, citing concerns about traffic congestion and the height of the building, but it was approved by Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s planning committee on Wednesday after the developer agreed to reduce the height and cut the rooms from 125.

A council report said: “Whilst the site is outside a designated town centre and is close to residential properties, it is highly accessible by public transport and a commercial use is considered appropriate given the location of the development on a busy road.

“The development would bring a vacant site back into use with the re-provision of an active frontage along the Westway.

“There would be no adverse impact on traffic generation and the scheme would not result in congestion of the primary road network. It is not considered that the proposal would harmfully affect the outlook and light to neighbouring properties.”

The Savoy Cinema, designed by architect George Coles, opened in 1931 and showed its last film on December 27, 1962, before being turned into a bowling alley and Mecca Bingo. The site was bulldozed in 1994. New owner GLF Hotels has promised to honour the site’s heritage.

A statement said: “The design aims to take into account the history and significance of the site and merge an efficient layout and access arrangements with respect and consideration for its neighbours.

“The proposed development aims to respect the original intent of the urban planners and replace the lost Savoy buildings with a similar quality and scale of building which will bring back some of the interest and entertainment to the area and provide a focus and statement which reflects the quality and importance of this historically important gateway to Hammersmith and Fulham and London.”