Premier Inn has won permission to build a 180-room hotel in Clerkenwell – after the UK’s top planning authority cast aside the concerns of community campaigners.

Endurance Land has finally won permission to redevelop the former NCP car park in Farringdon Road after a long-drawn-out planning row.

Campaigners, led by the Catherine Griffiths and Clerkenwell Community Tenants and Residents’ Association (TRA), had strongly opposed the hotel plans.

They wanted the huge site to boost Clerkenwell life for those who actually live there, with affordable housing and “useful” shops.

Islington Council rejected Endurance’s planning application in October 2016, saying it would “compromise the local economy” by not “maximising employment”.

Endurance took it to the Planning Inspectorate on appeal – which has now sided with the developer to overturn the town hall’s decision.

Inspector Paul Jackson said in his report that the development would “improve the street scene” and meet “the increasing demand for hotel accommodation.”

Whitbread, the company which owns Premier Inn, will be pouring £35million into the revamp, which also includes office space and three restaurant or retail units fronting onto Farringdon Road.

Development manager Owen Ellender said: “With the arrival of Crossrail, Farringdon station will be the only London station with important connections to all four points of the compass.

“The consented redevelopment will make best use of this important site by providing high-quality business, hotel and retail space in very close proximity to the station in a landmark new building, adding to and supporting the growing business demand in this exciting area of London.”