Portfolio

181 Talgarth Road

Category

Student Accommodation

Location

London

A mixed-use development born out of collaboration and community spirit.

When we acquired this site from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, we wanted to create a place that would honour the character of the local area and celebrate the spirit of the people living here.

The existing planning consent was for a 400-room hotel rising to 22 storeys, but we felt much more could be done to create a development that would really add value to the local area.

So, after running a series of consultations with the local council and several community groups, plus a constructive chat with Imperial College, we agreed that incorporating student accommodation into the development would boost local business, meet the growing need for quality, affordable student housing, and inject some new energy into the neighbourhood.

We brought in Stirling Prize-winning architects Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners to design the mixed-use development, now comprising a 400-bedroom hotel and a 713-unit student accommodation block. Working closely with some of the local community groups, the architects designed a collection of buildings that step down in height as they near the neighbouring houses.

This resolved one of the key initial concerns, which was that a single 22-storey building would be too imposing for the existing terraced houses, all while reflecting the distinctive architectural style of the neighbouring building, The Ark.

As well as ensuring 50% of the student housing was affordable, we wanted to support the student community in a way that felt in keeping with the local area.

This resolved one of the key initial concerns, which was that a single 22-storey building would be too imposing for the existing terraced houses, all while reflecting the distinctive architectural style of the neighbouring building, The Ark.

As well as ensuring 50% of the student housing was affordable, we wanted to support the student community in a way that felt in keeping with the local area.

ESG

20x £25k

grants supporting trainee doctors through their studies

50

care Packs donated to Baron’s Court Project to support low-income families

+

Funded the HomeLessMade initiative by Baron’s Court Project to support homeless artists

Since Charing Cross Hospital is just down the road, and many of the incoming students would be trainee doctors there, we decided to allocate £500,000 to help Imperial College support its medical students, either through free housing, tailored bursaries, or other forms of support such as ongoing access to mental health services.

With one eye on the needs of current locals and business owners, and another on London’s ever-growing student body, this is a place with the people of Hammersmith at heart.