PERMISSION to build a 452-room hotel next to The O2 Arena has been granted.

A Greenwich Council planning board approved the plans on October 28.

Alongside the hotel, which also features a ballroom, restaurant, bar, health spa and meeting facilities, there will be a block containing 100 apartments.

A hotel for the site was originally planned as part of the Masterplan for Greenwich Peninsula development in 2004.

The application were opposed by both the Greenwich Society and the Greenwich Conservation Group for not being the peninsula’s signature building, as had been originally intended.

In its report, the Greenwich Society had said: “This site is a jewel. “ “It should demand a building which is equally impressive as The O2.”