Two towers up to 18 storeys tall could be built next to Unilever's new UK headquarters in Kingston, providing 282 new homes.

Kingston Council already green-lit plans to build a 16-storey apartment building next to Eden Campus, in the town centre, but developer Cube Real Estate has now submitted revised plans to build two towers – one 18 storeys tall and the other eight storeys – on the site.

The council's decision comes despite objections from local residents.

The developer said in planning documents, submitted to the council, the scheme would make "effective use of land to provide much-needed homes" and contribute to Kingston's housing targets.

The scheme is part of the second phase of the Eden Campus development, and would see former office building Lever House demolished for the two apartment blocks.

The 18-storey building would have 255 co-living flats and a café, while the eight-storey block would have 27 social rent homes – bringing the total number of homes to 282.

The co-living units would offer studio accommodation with shared kitchens, dining areas, workspaces, a gym and outdoor areas, aimed at people who want to live close to their work and public transport – particularly the Eden Campus workforce.

The first phase of the development saw disused buildings demolished for two office buildings, one 10 storeys and the other eight storeys tall, and a multi-storey car park.

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The entire site was set to become Unilever's global headquarters, but the firm confirmed it would only be moving into the eight-storey building, its new UK and Ireland base, after a review. This opened in July, for 1,200 employees, while the other block is being sublet.



Visualisation of the proposed towers to replace Lever House, Kingston.( Credit: Cube Real Estate/Darling Associates Architects, provided in Kingston Council)

The council granted outline permission for the second phase of the scheme in 2021, which would have seen Lever House demolished for a 16-storey apartment block with 115 homes and a café.

But Cube Real Estate said in consultation documents earlier this year it had reworked the scheme to better suit Kingston.

Planning documents said: "The proposal makes best use of previously developed land in a highly accessible location and delivers much-needed large-scale purpose-built shared accommodation of high quality that contributes positively to the borough and London's housing needs, as well as the delivery of social rent affordable housing."

The development would have four Blue Badge parking bays. The council will decide on the plans in due course.

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