Lamington Group to open three net-zero room2 hometels

The Lamington Group, a real estate investor and developer, has announced plans to open three new net zero room2 hometels in York, Glasgow and Manchester in 2024, 2025 and 2026 respectively. The pipeline of sustainable properties, worth £100m investment, is in aid of the group’s commitment to build and operate to whole life net zero standards for new properties developed after the launch of the group’s net zero roadmap in September 2021. Room2 currently has three operational locations, in Southampton, Hammersmith and Chiswick, which opened in December 2021 marking its first fully whole life net zero hotel. Room2 Belfast is also due to open in spring 2023. Hometels combine the “best elements from Airbnb, serviced apartments and boutique hotels in an offering designed to appeal to modern corporate and leisure guests seeking flexible accommodation”. The York room2 will welcome guests from September 2024 with 116 rooms inside the city’s castle walls. Working with developers North Star, the hometel will introduce a “modern take on the destination’s mediaeval heritage”. The Glasgow room2 is due to open in the first quarter of 2025 and will offer a central location in the city’s financial district overlooking the River Clyde. Working with Mosaic planning architects, developer One Clyde Ltd in collaboration with West One Capital and planning consultant Iceni, the 134-bedroom property will be a part new build, part refurbishment of a traditional building. The Manchester room2 is set to become the tallest of the brand’s hometels to date which is set to open in Q1 2026. The 180 rooms will span 22 floors and offer a range of studios as well as introducing one and two-bedroom apartments, a first for room2 hometels. Located centrally, within easy walking distance of the city’s Piccadilly station, the property is a joint venture between Lamington Group and North Star/Country Large. All three new hometels will offer ground floor restaurant and bar spaces for guests and locals as well as work and meeting spaces, gyms and laundry rooms. All new openings will also include room2’s innovative features such as 24-hour stays as standard, mattress selection and kitchens in most rooms. Robert Godwin, managing director at Lamington Group, said: “Lamington Group strives to push the boundaries of net zero in the hospitality industry. The opening of new net zero properties in York, Glasgow and Manchester is a realisation of the group’s vision to expand across the country and reach 5,000 keys by 2030. “At the heart of each property remains our commitment to social values, community engagement and collaboration and the promotion of sustainable values to educate guests on the importance of the sustainability agenda.”