From storefronts to long stay

Real estate investment manager Luxgrove Capital Partners has been granted planning consent for what will be one of the largest aparthotels in London. The 268-suite project will occupy the former Woolworths site on Broadway in West Ealing and will also include 670 square metres of coworking space, a café, and a courtyard garden accessible to the public. 

The tribulations of household retail brands such as Homebase, The Body Shop, and Debenhams, are a telltale sign of the challenges that large, established brands face when adapting to changing consumer behaviours and increased high street rents. Often, these now vacant sites in desirable locations present the opportunity to restore real estate value through adaptive reuse. 

The original Woolworths store on Broadway was built in 1926 and traded until Woolworths’ national closure in 2008, with the site demolished in 2019. Assael Architecture, on behalf of Luxgrove, intends to reference the original Art Deco façade of the store in the redevelopment. It's a brilliant example of how conversions can blend historical references with modern, mixed-use projects - all the while generating new economic potential for struggling high streets. I look forward to following the scheme as it progresses.

Editorial commentary first published on Serviced Apartment News.