Coworth Park

Corporate Responsibility

At Coworth Park and 45 Park Lane, we are considering corporate responsibility issues at the start; in the hotels’ design, and in the way they will be managed once open in 2010.

An executive committee member with responsibility for corporate responsibility is already in place at Coworth Park, and is working alongside colleagues in the Collection – sharing ideas and learning from good practices.

Coworth Park and 45 Park Lane provide a good illustration of how we are trying to build responsible behaviour into our operations from the outset.  This commitment is evident in Coworth Park’s design, which will make it one of the most environmentally-advanced hotels of its kind.

To reduce energy consumption there will be a biomass boiler within an underground energy centre, which will be fuelled by burning willow that is grown on the estate – a first for a UK hotel. The willow, with a three-year growth cycle, will ensure that the hotel is able to produce its own carbon-neutral fuel supply while cooling for the hotel will be provided by underground pipes known as ‘slinkys’ within the hotel grounds. These are significantly more efficient than conventional air-cooled or water-cooled chilled water systems.

Solar glazing is being used in the main hotel and converted stable block and all rain and surface water will be recycled by draining into the lake for re-use for irrigation. The hotel will have its own kitchen garden which will provide many of the organic vegetables for its restaurants. The sunken garden, dating back to the eighteenth century, will be restored to its former glory.

As well as the excitement surrounding Coworth Park, 45 Park Lane is also set to open in 2010. The hotel’s eco-friendliness has been as important as its interiors and has seen the current concrete façade redesigned and revamped to incorporate eco-friendly fins. These will diminish solar gain to the building and significantly reduce the power required to run the air conditioning system.