The Kensington Society said the main parties to the inquiry would be the developer Rockwell, supported by the mayor of London, and the council, supported by local residents and the society. The proposals would see a wrecking ball taken to the 1970s Seifert landmark which stands in a garden square beside the A4 Cromwell Road. Designed by Manchester’s Simpson Haugh for hotel owners Queensgate Investments and Rockwell, a new 30-storey hotel would replace the existing building’s 906 rooms with 749 rooms and 340 serviced apartments along with a spa, restaurants and conference facilities. A £90m adjoining block would also be built containing 62 affordable apartments. The developer said the scheme would also involve a 2,700sq m garden square.