Alongside its joint venture partnersFlemyn, Amro Partners has secured planning approval for the transformation of the redundant Croydon Park Hotel site into a new c.£220m GDV Build to Rent scheme, which will be one of the most sustainable new residential buildings in London on completion in 2027.
Botanical House will deliver 447 new one, two and three-bedroom rental homes. In contrast to other Build to Rent projects in Croydon, it will provide over 25% 3-bedroom apartments, catering for families and providing an affordable option for sharers. Facilities will include a roof terrace, gym/wellness centre, cinema/media room, communal lounge areas, outside play area and co-working spaces. A total of 20% of the apartments will be designated as affordable, available to tenants at below market value via Discounted Market Rent and London Living Rent.
In line with Amro Partners' Net Zero Carbon 2025 pledge, the project will be the first residential building in Croydon to achieve the highest possible sustainability standards including BREEAM ‘Outstanding rating, Fitwel3* certification and WiredScore Platinum – the global digital connectivity and smart technology certification. Taking a retrofit first approach, the basement and ground floor slab of the original hotel building will be retained to save embodied carbon and minimise demolition and subsequent waste on site.
Located just a two-minute walk from East Croydon train station (13 minutes from London Bridge, 15 minutes from London Victoria and Gatwick Airport) and BOXPARK Croydon, with the highest possible connectivity rating of PTAL 6B, the project will help meet strong local demand for high quality, purpose-built and professionally managed rental accommodation with excellent transport links.
HTA Design, the appointed architect for the scheme, has a proven track record of delivering quality Build to Rent homes in Croydon. Botanical House will comprise two adjacent structures connected through a central communal entrance. Key to the design was a cohesive strategy for colour, materiality, grid and componentry, using a variety of terracotta finishes. Although at different heights, the tower and mansion block will predominately consist of the same treatment, while the crown of each building will have its own identity.
HTA’s proposals include landscaped amenity spaces for residents and enhancements to the streetscape, with extensive new planting as well as improved connectivity within the surrounding area. A significant 51% biodiversity net gain will be achieved through the creation of a large, communal landscaped garden, 50% soft landscaping and the addition of 45 newly planted trees and green street frontages, retaining existing street trees.
In partnership with local charities and community groups including Asian Resource Centre Croydon, Croydon Commitment and Croydon Voluntary Action, a new dedicated 206 sqm multifunctional community room on Altyre Road will provide space for social events, exercise classes and mentoring programmes. Construction will begin in 2024, with the development scheduled to complete and open in 2027, after which it will be managed on an ongoing basis by Amro’s operational platform, Amro Living.
Raj Kotecha, Chairman and CEO of Amro Partners, said: “With planning permission secured, we look forward to starting work delivering this exemplar Build to Rent project in the beating heart of Croydon. We are already working closely with the local community to deliver an exceptional new building which not only sets a new bar in terms of sustainability but makes a significant contribution to meeting high demand for quality rental homes in the borough.”