Ex-student accommodation in Hampton Wick will finally be turned into flats, after a developer withdrew plans to build a luxury hotel instead. 

Westcombe Developments already had permission to convert Kingston Bridge House into 70 new flats, which was granted by Richmond Council in 2023.

But the developer submitted plans in April to instead turn the empty student halls into 22 flats, including eight affordable homes, and a 90-bed luxury hotel. 

The hotel would have been run by IHG Hotels and Resorts under its brand Hotel Indigo, with a bar and restaurant for guests.

At the time, the developer said the previous plans were no longer viable and could not realistically come forward. 

It added demand for hotel rooms across London had significantly increased since the Covid-19 pandemic.

But a new report by council officers confirms the developer has withdrawn these proposals and it is once again moving ahead with its original plans to convert the block into 70 new flats.

Documents for the original scheme said it would make "more efficient use of redundant buildings".

The documents said: "Given the scale of the existing building, there are no other education providers locally that would be willing to occupy the premises. 

"The situation is made worse by the discovery recently that the external cladding to the building is in poor condition and requires replacement in the near future.

"The building is in poor condition and not fit for purpose. The delivery of much-needed new homes would meet a greater need for Richmond Council."

Four of the new homes will be available at social rent. The development will also have 23 parking spaces, including accessible bays.

The building was built as offices in the mid-1960s. 

It was used by Kingston University between 1994 and 2021, when the university replaced it with new accommodation in the town centre and sold the building to Westcombe Developments.