AEG Europe, owner of the O2 Arena in Greenwich, is searching for a hotel operator for a new 4 star hotel at the site. Plans have already been submitted for the 21-storey property on the Greenwich Peninsula.

The site already has outline consent and as part of the application to the London Borough of Greenwich AEG is also seeking additional event space which will include uses for banqueting for up to 3,000 people.

Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands is the architects for the scheme which would have views across the Thames towards Canary Wharf. AEG said it is working with a shortlist of potential operators for the hotel.

David Campbell, of AEG Europe, said: “The O2 has already created more than 2,500 direct jobs in Greenwich. However, the real economic prize for Greenwich and east London is adding overnight visitors.”

The O2 venue has been named the most popular in the world by events industry magazine Pollstar, with more than 2,349,952 ticket sales last year but it has faced criticism for not having any hotel provision on site.