Can you imagine a major property development project in a green belt that makes it greener than it is today? Yes the proposed development at the Hersham Golf Club, Surrey, London, is perhaps the most eco friendly project ever. It is a new five star hotel project that will be completely underground and the entire scheme will be covered with a plush green roof and merge totally with the surrounding countryside.
The proposed subterranean hotel pays the ultimate respects to London’s Green Belt by placing all of over 200 guest rooms underneath it with zero impact on the green environment. The design has been developed by Reardon Smith Architects. The aim is not just to maintain the status quo but the proposal includes the addition of extensive on-site re-vegetation and re-organization of existing spaces. The plan is to make the site more eco-friendly than it is today.
Reardon Smith’s project designer, Matthew Guy believes that it is perhaps the first time ever that a project of this magnitude is being taken up that provides a commercially viable solution to developing in the Green Belt. The hotel, spa and golf facilities are integrated with the environment. The design ensures that there are no compromises on the requirements for a bespoke five star hotel and in fact improves the physical layout of the site and makes it visually more attractive.
