The developer behind Simpson Haugh’s controversial £1bn redevelopment of Richard Seifert’s 29-storey Kensington Forum Hotel has withdrawn the application despite winning the backing of the mayor of London last year.

The twice-approved scheme, for hotel investor Queensgate, was called in by housing secretary Robert Jenrick at the start of the year, with a planning inquiry scheduled for later this spring.

The plans for a 749-bed hotel, 340 serviced apartments and 62 affordable homes on the Cromwell Road site in west London were green-lit by Sadiq Khan in October last year after a lengthy battle.

…