Park Plaza Hotels - Park Plaza Hotels begins construction of
central London landmark Hotel and Conference Centre
Park Plaza Hotels and contractor Gear Construction
Project Management, have today announced the next phase
in the development of their latest project, Park Plaza
Westminster Bridge London, their largest hotel
management contract to date. The hotel company’s aim is
to create a destination that becomes the next venue of
choice for international conferences and events.
Gear Construction Project Management, the contractor
responsible for developing and building Park Plaza’s
stunning portfolio of UK hotels, has began construction
of their newest property.
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, being built opposite the
Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, is a major hotel
development in the heart of London promising
eco-friendly initiatives, urban regeneration and one of
the largest hotel based conference spaces in central
London.
The striking new hotel, designed by BUJ Architects and
Uri Blumenthal Architects & Town Planners, will offer
over 2,500 square metres of conference space with 1,000
bedrooms. The hotel will offer conference space for up
to 1,250 delegates and will increase Park Plaza’s London
portfolio to 2,200 guest bedrooms.
In recent years, London’s skyline has been redeveloped
from Tower Bridge to Vauxhall Bridge, with Park Plaza
Westminster Bridge representing the next stage in
completing an ultra-modern South Bank cityscape.
Mr. Eli Papouchado, Chairman of Park Plaza Hotels, is
delighted with the progress already being made at the
site, commenting: “I am thrilled to be so closely
involved with the development of this striking new
hotel, and the significant impact it will have on the
regeneration of the South Bank. The area is now one of
the most visited in the city, and I am proud to be part
of its rejuvenated success.”
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London will be the eighth
Park Plaza-managed hotel in the UK to be built by Gear
Construction Project Management, following hotels in
Leeds, Nottingham and areas of London now enjoying the
rewards of extensive regeneration such as Vauxhall and
Victoria. The combined partnership of developer and
hotel management has proved a winning success across the
company’s UK estate and extends across to the Continent
where Park Plaza Hotels manage, own and franchise some
26 hotels.
Mr. Boris Ivesha, President and Chief Executive Officer
for Park Plaza Hotels, commented: “Demand for London
continues to grow, fuelled by a buoyant business
climate, emerging markets such as China and India, the
impact of Heathrow Terminal 5 and the London 2012
Olympics. The opening of Park Plaza Westminster Bridge
in 2010 and our 400-room Park Plaza County Hall - due to
open on London’s South Bank this autumn - will be
welcome additions to London’s luxury hotel offering.”
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London will feature some
of the latest eco-friendly technologies limiting its
impact on the environment. The hotel will have an
on-site filtered water bottling ‘factory’ (Carbon filter
process) eliminating the need to transport and dispose
of an estimated one million bottles of water per year.
The hotel will utilise the latest building insulation
technology with triple glazed, energy retaining cladding
for heat and cold retention to maximise energy
efficiency. Furthermore, the hotel will produce 15 per
cent of its own energy using a biomass electric
generator. The construction will also recycle 4,500m3 of
concrete from the demolished GLC building that was
retained on site for use in the new build process.
Mr. Ivesha continues: “Tourism accounts for a
significant and growing percentage of GDP in the UK and
it is important for the industry to take the lead in
finding ways of mitigating our environmental impact. We
aim to set a new standard for hotels adopting
environmentally friendly policies to give this exciting
new development a five-star environ-friendly rating.”
The popular South Bank area has enjoyed continued
regeneration over the last few years with the latest
£110 million refurbishment of the Royal Festival Hall
continuing the movement. The Park Plaza Westminster
Bridge hotel development will make its own contribution
to the regeneration of the area with a total investment
of £300 million, with £4.6 million allocated to local
regeneration schemes including public transport,
employment and the training of local people. A further
£1.6 million is allocated towards the creation of a
landscaped public space around the hotel. Westminster
Bridge Roundabout will become part-pedestrian with a
piazza that will limit traffic to taxis and public
transport, making it a more scenic and enjoyable area.
“The piazza will create a direct connection between
Waterloo and Westminster that will be much easier for
tourists and residents to travel between by foot,”
continued Mr. Ivesha.
“Urban regeneration is extremely important if London is
to make an impact at the London 2012 Olympic Games. This
includes extending the support businesses provide to the
city south of the river. This trail blazing scheme is a
fantastic way to widen the horizons of Lambeth and
create a future landmark for travel and tourism in South
London.”
The initial announcement was made in October 2005, when
financial investment partners Galliard Homes and
Frogmore Property Company Limited, together with Eurosea
Hotels, declared the multi-million pound project on the
south bank for the 14-storey apart-hotel development.
Email:
ryan.hayes@resultspr.co.uk
Arundel Jones Associates Ltd
Hill Farm, Linton Hill, Maidstone, Kent ME17 4AL
Tel : 01622 745333
news@buildingdesign.co.uk
Registered in England and Wales No. 07334149
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