Consent granted for Urban Villa Whitechapel hotel

Union Hanover Securities and Southern Grove have been granted consent for a 217-bed hotel in Whitechapel.

The Grzywinski + Pons scheme will see the conversion of a 75,000 sq ft office building at 45 Whitechapel Road. The Urban Villa brand will have “two distinct design-led identities: edgy Manhattan loft-style common areas and spacious four star luxury hotel rooms”.

Work will begin in the summer next year and the joint has appointed Restaurant Property to secure an operator for an independently operated roof top restaurant which boasts spectacular terraces with views across the City.

Union Hanover is looking to add new locations to its portfolio such as Bethnal Green, Southwark, Hackney, Brixton and Camden having now acquired most of their non-London targets such as Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Union Hanover director Andrew Fowler said:

“We currently own five sites where we are rolling out the Urban Villa concept; we are under offer on two more and hope to have doubled our current portfolio within 24 months. This specific site on the edge of the City and close to Brick Lane personifies our design-led brand.

“The next phase will be key European gateway cities such as Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris and we would love to do something in New York, as it’s had a significant influence on Urban Villa as a brand and still stands out when compared to Europe for design-led product.”

GL Hearn provided planning advice.

Property Week – 13th December 2013 – [read article]