Croydon Park Hotel: What Happened and Future Plans

The former Croydon Park Hotel – once a 211-bed conference hotel with an indoor pool and squash courts – is being repurposed into an aparthotel called The Canopy, after its developer Amro Partners abandoned a consented 447‑home build‑to‑rent tower scheme for the same site. This article traces the site’s winding redevelopment journey, explains what the new aparthotel will offer, and suggests where to stay in Croydon while the hotel remains closed. All key claims are drawn from planning records, trade reporting and local journalism, with sourcing transparently noted.

Last checked: 2026-10-05

Property Name: Croydon Park Hotel (formerly Clarion) · Location: Croydon, London, England · Current Status: Closed for redevelopment into aparthotel · Key Feature: Indoor heated pool, gym, squash courts, sauna

What happened to the Croydon Park Hotel?

The hotel operated for years as a 211‑bed conference property with leisure facilities including an indoor swimming pool, squash courts and a gym. After closing – reportedly around 2023 or 2024 – Croydon Council sold the site to build‑to‑rent developer Amro Partners, which initially pursued a high‑rise residential scheme called Botanical House. That proposal, designed by HTA Design, received planning approval in 2025 and would have delivered approximately 447 homes across two connected buildings, including a 39‑storey tower. The planning committee report from October 2024 described a scheme of about 450 flats in Use Class C3, with 43 basement car‑parking spaces, 14 blue‑badge spaces and 718 cycle‑parking spaces (Croydon Council planning report).

The original project also included 20% affordable housing – a mix of Discounted Market Rent and London Living Rent – plus shared amenities such as a roof terrace, gym, cinema room, communal lounges and co‑working space (HTA Design).

Sale to Amro Partners

Amro Partners and its joint‑venture partner Flemyn acquired the vacant former hotel for £24 million, according to trade publication Serviced Apartment News. The same report described the property as a 211‑bed hotel. Local news outlet Inside Croydon indicated that the site was briefly owned by the council before passing into private hands.

Redevelopment into aparthotel

In February 2026, Estates Gazette reported that Amro had decided to pivot from the consented high‑rise scheme to a lower‑risk aparthotel conversion. An Amro representative told the publication: “Together with our JV partner, we undertook a comprehensive review of both the approved consent and the existing asset, as well as the wider investment landscape, identifying a clear opportunity to reposition the building as a high‑quality aparthotel catering to both long‑ and short‑stay guests” (Estates Gazette).

The revised approach, named The Canopy, reportedly contains 246 studios and apartments and retains the existing hotel structure rather than demolishing it for a new tower. Estates Gazette noted that staying within the existing hotel use class could reduce planning and delivery risk. Serviced Apartment News stated that operational completion is targeted for the first quarter of 2027.

Who bought the Park hotel?

Amro Partners profile

Amro Partners is a London‑based build‑to‑rent developer with a portfolio of institutional‑grade rental housing and, more recently, aparthotel projects. Together with joint‑venture partner Flemyn, it acquired the former Croydon Park Hotel from Croydon Council. The deal was first reported by Estates Gazette in February 2026. Amro Living, an affiliated management company, was identified as the intended operator of the original Botanical House scheme (BD Online).

Is Croydon a nice area?

Croydon is a large town in South London that has been undergoing significant regeneration for more than a decade. It offers frequent trains to central London (Victoria, London Bridge and St Pancras in roughly 15–20 minutes) and a mix of shopping centres, restaurants, and green spaces such as Lloyd Park and the South Norwood Country Park.

Neighbourhood character

The area around the former hotel – near Altyre Road and Addiscombe Grove – is mostly residential, with a mix of Victorian terraces and newer apartment blocks. The Addiscombe West community website has noted local concerns about tower heights and construction disruption. For visitors who prefer a quieter base with excellent rail connections, Croydon offers a lower‑cost alternative to central London hotels.

Transport links

East Croydon station, a 10‑minute walk from the hotel site, provides frequent services to central London, Gatwick Airport and the Sussex coast. Tramlink services also connect the area to Wimbledon, Beckenham and New Addington.

Original hotel specifications (pre‑closure)

Other hotels in Croydon to consider while the Park Hotel is closed

For travellers who need accommodation in Croydon while the Croydon Park Hotel site is under redevelopment, several alternatives are available. The following options were mentioned in organic search results and general knowledge:

• Hilton London Croydon – A well‑known chain hotel near East Croydon station, offering a gym, restaurant and conference facilities.
• Leonardo Hotel London Croydon – Previously a Jurys Inn, this modern hotel is located next to the Whitgift Centre shopping mall.
• Croydon Apartments by Aparthotel.com – Self‑catering studios and apartments in the town centre, suitable for longer stays.

These properties provide a range of price points and amenities, though none replicate the leisure facilities – pool, squash courts, sauna – that the Croydon Park Hotel once offered.

Timeline of the Croydon Park Hotel redevelopment

• 2023‑12: Planning application 23‑00872‑FUL submitted for up to 455 homes and community floorspace (Greater London Authority planning consultation).
• 2024‑10: Croydon Council planning committee material describes demolition and high‑rise build‑to‑rent scheme of approximately 450 flats (Croydon Council report).
• 2025‑11‑03: HTA Design announces planning approval for the 447‑home Botanical House scheme (HTA Design).
• 2026‑02‑19: Estates Gazette reports Amro’s decision to switch from residential towers to an aparthotel (Estates Gazette).
• 2026‑02‑20: Serviced Apartment News reports the £24 million acquisition and Q1 2027 completion target (Serviced Apartment News).
• 2026‑06‑17: Inside Croydon reports the revised scheme will be called The Canopy and contain 246 studios and apartments (Inside Croydon).

Frequently asked questions about the Croydon Park Hotel

Sources and further reading

• Croydon Council – Planning committee report (October 2024)
• Greater London Authority – Planning application 23‑00872‑FUL
• HTA Design – Planning approval for Botanical House (3 November 2025)
• Estates Gazette – Developer rationale for aparthotel pivot (19 February 2026)
• Serviced Apartment News – Acquisition price and Q1 2027 target (20 February 2026)
• BD Online – Original towers and GDV (undated)
• Inside Croydon – The Canopy name and 246‑unit figure (17 June 2026)
• Addiscombe West community website – Local planning context