Hollywood star Robert De Niro will build his planned luxury hotel in London’s Covent Garden after the deputy leader of the local council hailed the design as “one of the finest schemes we have considered in years”.

Permission for the The Wellington Hotel has been granted, enabling the star of Taxi Driver and Raging Bull to increase his burgeoning hospitality portfolio.

Architects Kohn Pedersen Fox have designed the 83-room hotel, which will be housed in six adjacent buildings, three of which are Grade II listed.

Substantial renovation, including the creation of new storeys, will take place to the interiors of three of the buildings, but the historic facades will be largely retained.

Westminster City Council deputy leader Robert Davis hailed the design as being “of the highest quality”, meshing the new with the old in a way that “will attract visitors from all over the world.”

The hotel will have 83 guest rooms, a spa, two restaurants, a café and a members’ club. A roof garden will be built on the top of one of the buildings on Wellington Street.

Speaking about the plans in May, De Niro – who has partnered with development firm Capital & Counties Properties and hospitality operator BD Hotels – said: “London is one of the most exciting and cosmopolitan cities in the world, so it makes perfect sense to develop a hotel that represents all of that in the heart of this city in Covent Garden.”

Construction is set to begin next year and will be completed in 2019.