The extended development of 160 Blackfriars Road into Motel One Southwark represents a strategic repositioning of a complex central London site by Maya Capital. Originally consented under previous ownership for a 169-key Ruby Hotel, the scheme was reworked to accommodate 222 rooms within the same approved massing — unlocking significant value while maintaining planning viability and design integrity.

Andrew Link, and later Nick Bentley, were central to this transformation in their roles at their past consultancy. Andrew led the early-stage viability testing between two prospective operators, before ultimately Motel One were selected. During this phase, he managed the design team to explore massing efficiency and brand integration, ensuring the scheme could support a higher key count while meeting operational and planning constraints. The detailed design development was progressed in parallel with commercial negotiations, culminating in an agreed Heads of Terms (HOT) with Motel One prior to planning submission.

Following this, Nick Bentley assumed responsibility for taking the project through detailed design coordination, procurement, enabling works, and contractor appointment. Together, Andrew and Nick provided robust leadership of the consultant and design teams — driving value engineering exercises to bring the scheme within budget, aligning technical delivery with brand standards, and ensuring compliance across planning, operational, and buildability requirements.

Their stewardship ensured a seamless transition into the construction phase, with early site works progressing and key contractual appointments made to de-risk programme and cost exposure. Nick concluded this phase before moving to Feat Factory, carrying forward a track record of unlocking latent value in high-potential urban sites.

Now under construction, the hotel will deliver 222 sustainable, well-designed rooms, alongside affordable workspace and public amenities — contributing meaningfully to Southwark’s growing vibrancy and hotel offering.