UK: Student accommodation provider Urbanest has unveiled new proposals for a PBSA scheme in Vauxhall, South London.
The site has an existing planning consent for 872 hotel rooms in two-connected buildings, a dedicated drop-off point for taxis, and two reception areas but the project was not delivered.
Urbanest has now partnered with site owner Hotchkiss to bring forward a PBSA-led mixed-use scheme designed by Hopkins Architects.
The plans include 769 student bedrooms, of which 35 per cent would be affordable. Amenities will include roof terraces, a public cafe on the ground floor and a flexible incubator/cultural space, as well as improvements to the footpath along Albert Embankment with new greenery and trees.
The building heights are staying the same at 29 and 26 storeys in the most recent planning application, but there will be minor changes to the overall massing to accommodate the change in use from a hotel to a PBSA development.
The two former hotel reception areas will be replaced by a ground-floor student lobby space, incubator office reception and café. There will be a 24-hour concierge based in the ground floor lobby who will ensure the area remains safe for students.
Two basement levels (two less than the consented plans) will be used for refuse, bike storage and plant.
The scheme aims to achieve Passivhaus certification, become Net Zero in operation, and target a BREEAM rating of Outstanding for the PBSA and Excellent for Vintage House. It will reduce energy consumption by 46 per cent compared to a non-Passivhaus student accommodation scheme.
Urbanest will be partnering with University College London (UCL) to take a large number of the rooms, including all the affordable beds at the scheme.
The site – at 36 – 46 Albert Embankment – currently comprises a Jet Petrol station and the Vintage House office. It has been identified for development for some time and three planning applications have been approved by Lambeth Council previously.
