Lawyers’ office building cleared for hotel conversion

The Icelandic Bar Association plans to convert its office building at Álftamýri 9 in Reykjavík into a hotel or guesthouse, mbl.is reports. The Reykjavík planning official has responded positively to the proposal, subject to conditions.

The two-storey concrete building, with a basement, was built in 1966 and is registered as office space. It is connected to the building at Álftamýri 7, where Hotel Lotus operates.

The planning official said an application could be submitted for a building permit to change the building’s use to accommodation, as this is consistent with the current zoning. Accommodation establishments in categories I to III are permitted in the area, but category IV establishments, which include alcohol service, are not.

Existing retail and service premises on the ground floor may not be converted into accommodation. All co-owners of the plot must approve any application involving a change of use or an increase in the building’s size.

The current detailed development plan also permits one additional floor to be built on top of the existing two-storey building. The maximum permitted building area on the plot is 1,692 square metres.