UK: Developer Espalier Property Ventures has submitted plans for a 142-key, five-storey aparthotel on Clapham Road in Kennington, south London.
The project will also include eight apartments and office space. The developer plans to demolish and replace Europcar’s rental building and carpark.
The proposed aparthotel, set to be run by room2, will include in-room kitchen facilities, a café and cocktail bar open to guests and the public. The proposal includes a basement for the parking that Europcar requires for rental vehicles.
According to the developer’s planning statement the site is “currently underused and detracts from the character and appearance of the area and the setting of the adjacent listed buildings”.
It states: “By discouraging existing housing from being used as Airbnb type short term rentals, this will protect local housing. The aparthotel will also create approximately 25 new jobs for the borough. The proposals will enhance the appearance and character of the Conservation Area. The existing 15 Europcar jobs will be retained and new local employment of approximately 89 jobs will be generated through the modernised Europcar premises.”
It also describes the development as sustainable and environmentally friendly as it includes solar panels, ground source heating technology, green roof gardens, and electric vehicle charging points.
