‘The Rex’ in Kingston approaches completion

The 212-unit part-retrofit development, located directly opposite Kingston train station, sets a new ESG benchmark for the UK Living sector as the first UK co-living project set to achieve a full suite of sustainability ratings, such as BREEAM ‘Outstanding’, Fitwel 3* and WiredScore ‘Platinum’. The landmark co-living project will also provide dual means of escape to all floors.

Following our strict technology-led approach to reducing emissions, The Rex is set to meet 2030 LETI targets for whole-life embodied carbon, with market leading operational energy performance exceeding Building Regulations requirements by 60%.

The building started life as a 1960s office before being converted into student accommodation in 2012, and with the existing substructure and superstructure retained, it is now set to begin its third iteration as an exemplar ESG-focused co-living community. Seeking improvements iteratively throughout the design process, we achieved embodied carbon reductions of a remarkable 40% and 50% for the substructure and superstructure respectively, versus the design stage.

Driven by Kingston’s key employment hubs, affluent demographics and thriving graduate market, robust local demand for co-living has delivered a strong pre-leasing phase for The Rex. This is further supported by a lagging local supply pipeline and the opening of the new Unilever Global HQ, located a short walk away.

The project topped out in October 2024 and work is now progressing on the interior spaces ahead of practical completion in September 2025. In addition to 212 studio apartments, The Rex provides extensive communal spaces including co-working areas, residents’ lounge, private dining room, fully equipped gym, yoga studio, cinema room and roof terraces with panoramic London views.

Tom Donnachie, MD, UK Investment at Amro Partners, said: “In today’s heavily constrained market, we are proud to bring forward this exceptional co-living project, which achieves the highest possible standards of sustainability and fire safety. Appetite for fully futureproofed green Living assets is strong and, along with our partners NTTUDE, we look forward to engaging with the investment market in due course as we approach practical completion.”