MCR Hotels has submitted plans to redevelop London’s Grade II-listed BT Tower and the buildings around its base, including a rooftop swimming pool. Contrary to expectations of a pool at the top of the 177-metre tower, the facility would sit on a lower adjoining building, allowing swimmers to look up at the landmark. The plans also aim to restore public access to the tower’s upper floors after decades, alongside new shops, restaurants, jobs and a public square.

The proposal follows consultations involving more than 300 people and comes more than two years after MCR agreed to buy the tower for £275 million. Originally completed in 1964 as the Post Office Tower, it carried microwave telecommunications signals across Britain and became associated with a persistent, though inaccurate, secrecy myth. If Camden Council approves the application, construction could start in 2029 after BT leaves, with reopening targeted for 2033.