Plans have been submitted to convert a student accommodation building in Church Grove, Hampton Wick into apartments and a hotel.

The application seeks the change of use of Kingston Bridge House "from student accommodation to provide 22 apartments (C3 Use Class) including 8 affordable units and a 90-bed hotel (Use Class C1). Façade and elevational alterations, infill extension at ground floor level and associated landscaping, widening of two crossovers, access, parking/refuse provision and other external alterations".

The application was submitted to Kingston Council on 3 July. However, a more detailed application of the same nature was submitted to Richmond Council back in May.

An application document by IHG Hotels & Resorts said: "IHG is associated with some of the most famous hotels in the world, including the InterContinental Park Lane and Regent Carlton Cannes. We take pride in being the world's leading hotel operator, with a portfolio of thousands of hotels across all segments."

It added: "IHG only has one hotel within a three-mile radius of Kingston Bridge House, which is our Crowne Plaza on Portsmouth Road to the South.

"The surrounding area has a substantial provision of leisure and corporate demand drivers, which will support robust trading for full-service hotels in our broader collection of brands.

"The area has long been a target for expansion, and IHG has a strong requirement for additional hotel rooms in this location. Hotels are an excellent centrepiece for broader regeneration.

"The front door is always open, and they are constantly animating the area, generating football to bring in tourists who spend money in the local economy, as well as serving as a meeting place for locals.

"After breakfast, many hotels welcome residents for small meetings over morning coffee. Then, there are co-working spaces and business lunches, or our 'grab and go' concept, which extends to afternoon teas before the evening guests arrive. Hotels are the archetypical marketplace."

Kingston Bridge House was formerly used as student accomodation for Kingston University students (Image via Google Maps)

In another application document, Westcombe Group, a residential hotel and residential developer, says it became aware that the site was available over five years ago.

It added: "We purchased it and following a planning submission in March 2022 were granted permission for 70 apartments, 4 of which were affordable, in April 2024.

"Post-pandemic, the need/interest for hotel rooms across London rose substantially. This came to a point where multiple hotel operators took keen interest in this site.

"Two significant considerations Westcombe Developments had were the desire for a high quality hotel offer alongside a mixed-use development ensuring only a reduction not deletion of the residential element.

"In addition, we have taken the opportunity to increase as much as possible the amount of on-site affordable housing we have been able to double from 4 to 8 the number of affordable apartments, in percentage terms (when comparing quantum of the approved scheme and this one), a rise from 6% to 36%.

"As our proposals have progressed, a formal pre-application submission meeting was held with your colleague Emer Costello with the resultant letter carefully assessed and where suggestions were made acted on positively.

"There has been positive and constructive on-going dialogue with your officers as the design/application has progressed. In addition, following site/surrounds visit and meeting in Bullen Hall with the Design Review Panel, we carefully reviewed the resultant letter and made design alterations."

Key benefits Westcombe Group finds in its proposals include:

• A Brownfield site/reuse of an existing redundant structure
• A mixed hotel and residential use befitting a location such that it stands on
• A marked improvement to the external appearance of the property such that it compliments and improves not exacerbates the "village" feel Hampton Wick benefits from
• The opportunity to inject new and much needed vibrance and vitality to a part of Hampton Wick which is decaying and declining
• The creation of 50 new jobs, 10 of which will go to Richmond residents
• New homes creating living accommodation for 55 residents
• 9,500 visitors accommodated each year
• £4.8m combined knock-on expenditure on local retail and leisure (three times more than the consented residential apartments)

The developer held a public consultation about its plans to convert the site into a hotel in October last year.

The application submitted to Richmond Council has received three objections from neighbouring residents.

Reasons for objection include concerns regarding the e architectural design of the hotel building, parking adequacy, and the design of the hotel's signage.

The application has also received an observation comment from Kingston's Guildhall 2, which states: "The proposed development at Kingston Bridge House includes 22 apartments. If approved, this would generate a small pupil primary (four new pupils) and secondary primary yield (two new pupils) i.e. new families moving in who would have children who require a school place. 

"The development is in school place planning area number 2 - Teddington/ Hampton Wick. This area, like others in the borough, has been impacted by falling rolls at primary schools in the borough due to lower birth rates and families leaving London for a variety of reasons. There are five schools in this area - including an infant and junior school.

"Due to falling rolls, there is currently sufficient capacity at these schools to accommodate the need for any new places from the development should it proceed. We are not expecting any significant increase in pupil numbers in this area so sufficient capacity should remain for some time. At a secondary level, schools in Richmond are collectively over capacity and demand for places is high.

"The nearest school to the site in Richmond is Teddington School - but there are also a number of schools in Kingston that are within a reasonable travel distance.

"Given the small secondary yield from the development, it is expected that the demand for places could be met.

"Also, looking ahead, the lower primary school numbers are expected to move through to secondary schools in the next few years which should reduce some of the pressure for secondary places across the borough in the near future. 

Both councils are yet to make a decision on this application.

You can view the full application here.