Kingston town centre faces regeneration

Kingston town centre faces a complete revamp with plans for regeneration for Eden Street and a new Hilton hotel underway.

The proposals for the new Eden Street include 385 apartments, terrace restaurants, boutique cinema and retail space, making it a more family friendly environment in the evenings. The developers are also looking into new open spaces for people to relax in and better pedestrian routes to other parts of Kingston town centre.

The £400m plan depicts a lively and busy shopping district that could rival Westfield and Oxford Street. The development will be 16-storeys high.

KU health student Nicky Jones said: “Kingston high street is always so dead in the evenings, especially Eden Street which is dark and creepy at night. Hopefully this development makes it more exciting, always going to the rotunda gets boring after a while. I can’t wait for the boutique cinema, sounds really good.”

A planning application has been submitted to the council and if approved, Eden walk will close in spring 2017 for renovation and will reopen at Christmas in 2019.

British Land director Matthew Secker said: “We are excited about the opportunity for Kingston.”

The multi-million pound ‘DoubleTree by Hilton London’ hotel will open in the later half of 2016 in Kingston town centre and will consist of 146 rooms and suites, as well as a restaurant, bar and conference room.

Leader of Kingston council, Kevin Davis said: “Kingston town centre is a thriving place, rich in culture and heritage. There are some excellent hotels in the borough, but Kingston town centre itself has been crying out for a high quality place where leisure and business visitors can stay.”

The riverside eco system’s open water heat pump will provide heating and hot water to all rooms in the hotel as well as cooling them in the summer.

Electrical engineering group NHP claims that the pump will save 500 tonnes of CO2 each year, as well as reduce annual heating bills.