London – Travelodge, London Docklands

Marick worked with the joint venture partner, MLE, to take the project from inception, at land acquisition through to completion of the construction. This involved site feasibility and early funding strategy, engaging a tenant for the hotel, securing planning consent, overseeing the design through to tender and engaging the main contractor and then overseeing the project through to completion.

The scheme involved a number of construction and design challenges due to site constraints requiring innovative design, working with a number of third-party stakeholders, and collaboration with all team members.

The East India Dock (cut and cover) road tunnel is underneath and runs across the middle of the site, this required a build over agreement with TfL and live monitoring of the piling, which was installed within 3m of the tunnel wall. At ground level a cycle superhighway had to be diverted, following extensive consultation. Other considerations included construction logistics and coordination with the surrounding very high value data centre assets and working around a very limited site compound area for laydowns.

In order to meet the GLA carbon reduction and Tower Hamlets planning/s106 requirements, the scheme achieved BREEAM Excellent 81% score, EPC A (20 points away from Net Zero), 28% reduction in carbon emissions against Part L, 61% carbon reduction against London Plan. The scheme included 50% electric vehicle charging provision, latest Air Source Heat Pumps to reduce use of gas/fossil fuels, prefabricated pods, pre-cast concrete to improve programme, and biodiversity net gain over 145m² (urban greening) pocket park and Public Realm linking other sites to the DLR station, high quality native species planting, bird and bat boxes and other ecological measures.

This new Flagship Travelodge Premium Plus hotel was delivered in June 2022, 3 months earlier than the contract completion date, through collaborative working with the project team.

An innovative funding structure was developed by the JV to unlock the viability of the scheme.