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Edwardian Hotels London has secured a £175m ‘green loan’ from HSBC UK to ensure its new Super Boutique hotel, The Londoner, situated in Leicester Square will be “one of the greenest hotels in the UK”.
It is the first green loan in the sector that meets the Green Loan Principles, which were set out in March 2018 to encourage and facilitate environmentally-friendly economic activity. The funding will be used to ensure the new hotel “doesn’t just meet but exceeds” the BREEAM Excellent category in building environmental and sustainable performance.
Edwardian Hotels said the loans means the Londoner’s green credentials will range from use of construction materials with a low environmental impact, to new technologies including an innovative liquid film which will reduce evaporation and energy loss from the hotel’s swimming pool.
The hotel is also aiming to contribute to the sustainability of its neighbours by including a heat network connection. Initially, this will be linked to the Edwardian Hotels London-owned hotel next door to The Londoner, The Radisson Blu Edwardian Hampshire, but could also be extended to the surrounding area in the future. In total, the hotel is set to use 30% less carbon than regulations demand.
Jasminder Singh, chairman and founder of Edwardian Hotels London, said: “Since its inception we have always had bold ambitions for The Londoner to write itself into the very fabric of the city. We have been dedicated to delivering a high-quality, sustainable, integrated hotel and this Green Loan supports that vision. We are delighted that this new property, designed to celebrate the character of the capital, has become the first in the hospitality industry to secure this.”
Alison Taylor, head of corporate Real Estate, Hotels at HSBC UK, added: “This pioneering deal underlines Edwardian Hotels London’s commitment to not only create a hotel of the highest quality in this iconic location, but also its desire to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the sustainable development of hotels.
“This should be the first of many Green Deals for the UK’s hotel sector in the years to come as the industry plays its part in using sustainable finance to tackle environmental issues. HSBC is committed to leading the way in Sustainable Finance and to promoting Green Loans across all the sectors we support.”
