As you may know, there is currently a planning consent for 120 homes with 958 sqm of ground floor commercial space to be built on this site, which was formerly the Woolworths store, now demolished. The consented building was 15 storeys in height at the Singapore Road end of the site and 11 storeys facing Broadway.

Above: The current site

As a response to changing market demand for different types of housing, and the need to comply with the latest fire regulations, Luxgrove Capital Partners are now proposing to apply for planning permission to construct 268 Apart-Hotel suites. These rooms operate with a conventional hotel booking system and are targeted to slightly longer stays than a typical hotel. The proposed new buildings are shown below. As you will see, the new proposals are lower in height, rising to only 9 storeys in height across the site.

Above: The new proposals as seen from Singapore Road (left), and Melbourne Avenue (right)

The site and its location

This site was previously occupied by the former Woolworths building that was derelict for a considerable time before being demolished in 2019, and is adjacent to The Appleton (136 homes ranging from 8 to 11 stories), Rosemoor House and Pershore House.

The former Woolworths building.

Above: The building in the 1960s, the front view, and the rear bird's eye view

Townscape

The picture below shows that the site (marked with a red line) lies amongst taller buildings (up to 16 storeys high) along Broadway and in the immediate surrounding area.

Above: A range of different heights of buildings along Broadway and Singapore Road

The proposal

This proposed development will be nine storeys in height (a reduction from the previously consented scheme which was for 15 storeys at its highest.)

Heights and massing

The numbers on the different buildings show the building heights in terms of storeys.

Above: Heights and massing model

Room layouts

The images below (click to open) show the layout of a standard room and a premium room.

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Amenity spaces

There will be 773 sq m internal amenity space at ground floor, 151 sq m internal amenity space at eighth floor and 226 sqm of external amenity space at roof level.

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Above: Amenity spaces

There will be an open-plan ground floor cafe and co-working space for both hotel guests and the public.

A glazed atrium will bring light and planting to the centre of the space.

Rooftop amenity will offer a more private and secluded lounge for hotel guests and make the most of the views on offer from the ninth floor.

A wellness suite will provide additional amenity.

Sustainability

Above: Sustainability plan

There is a proposed connection to the existing District Heating Network.

This will be a car free development – occupiers will not be allowed parking permits - with opportunities to improve disabled car parking on Singapore Road. The land to the north of the proposed site is currently experiencing significant vehicle overcrowding due to excessive parking, which is negatively impacting Singapore Road. Research indicates that the land was previously used as a disabled parking and servicing area, likely in connection with the former Woolworths building. The redevelopment of 104-110 is intended to re-provide these spaces.

Benefits

The applicant team believe that the forthcoming application provides the following benefits.