A four-star hotel development in Tooting is expected to be repurposed for temporary accommodation shortly before its official opening, GB News can reveal.

The hotel, developed by the London Hotel Group (LHG), had received planning permission from Wandsworth Council following a public consultation.

The development was presented as a resource for visitors to St George’s Hospital, local families, and business travellers — and was approved on that basis.

However, Wandsworth Council was scheduled to meet at 7pm last night to discuss a change in use for the site.

It has been expected that the council will approve a plan to lease the entire building for temporary accommodation, reportedly to house migrants and homeless individuals.

The hotel group is also owned by Gauhar Nawab, who has been described as one of Britain's migrant hotel kings.

WANDSWORTH BOROUGH COUNCIL

Nawab's London Hotel Group also runs several Best Western hotels which have been taken over the house asylum seekers, including in Peckham where Bibby Stockholm protesters were held in 2024.

The news has prompted concern among some local residents who feel the new use does not reflect what was communicated during the original consultation process.

Some online commenters have also claimed that this is not an isolated incident.

According to posts on social media, similar arrangements have allegedly occurred elsewhere in London, where hotel developments were approved as commercial ventures but were later converted to emergency accommodation.

PA

The LHG website continues to list the Tooting location under its “Coming Soon” section, describing it as a four-star hotel offering modern amenities.

The shift in use has divided opinion, leaving some community members frustrated over an apparent lack of transparency.

However, others argue that, given London’s ongoing housing challenges, the council’s approach may be a pragmatic solution to urgent needs.

The local council is also adamant that the site will not become yet another asylum hotel.

Labour councillor Aydin Dikerdem, Wandsworth Council's Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “It’s a clear opportunity to try and focus on both the quality of the accommodation but also savings to the public purse on the huge temporary accommodation bill, whilst managing to keep residents in borough.

"We want to make sure that this is a site that works for the local area and works for the families that are placed in it.”

In a joint statement, London Hotel Group and Wandsworth Council told GB News: "Homelessness support is a council priority so this long-term agreement secures good quality accommodation in our own borough, to meet the needs of locally connected families, who have become homeless through no fault of their own.

LHG

"At present, we sadly cannot provide all such families accommodation in the borough.

"At the same time, having predictable costs could save the council taxpayers up to £6million over the term of the agreement, which is a great result for Wandsworth."

Meanwhile, the Home Office stressed that the hotel will not become an asylum hotel, instead admitting that migrants with indefinite leave to remain could end up staying at the site.