David Davidovich with Roman Abramovich
(Picture: CARL COURT/AFP via Getty Images)A close associate of the sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich is trying to turn a dilapidated ex-hotel in the heart of Kensington into luxury flats
David Davidovich, described by Forbes as Abramovich’s “right hand man”, is seeking permission from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to build the seven-flat scheme off Kensington High Street.
The Russian-born billionaire is not on any sanctions list but has been in the spotlight following reports Ambramovich transferred ownership of one of his investment firms to him on the day Russia invaded Ukraine.
Davidovich’s development plans come as other Russian billionaires — including Ambramovich — are starting to sell off London assets, or pull out of property deals in the capital amid fears they will be caught up in sanctions.
According to analysis by Transparency International, Russians own at least £1.5bn worth of UK property, much of it in London’s prime areas like Belgravia and Kensington. In 2017, Davidovich bought the down-at-heel Clearlake Hotel and the building next door on Prince of Wales Terrace.
The Clearlake, which closed in 2015, was previously owned and run by the Herskovits family, an elderly couple who had also lived at the property. It boasted an enviable location but not much else, and had a reputation in the area as a magnet for local waifs and strays.
Empty for years, today the pair of stuccoed mansions are crumbling eyesores in an otherwise smart 19th century row of terraces. Windows and doors are boarded up, loose wires hang down from the roof while the insides of the buildings need stripping out completely.
But plans lodged with the council reveal Davidovich wants to restore the buildings’ façade to its “original glory” with a full-scale refurbishment of its exterior and a complete internal remodelling.
Under the plans, still under consideration, the seven flats would be constructed horizontally to improve room layout and circulation. There are also plans for a single-storey basement excavation to provide extra storage.
“The buildings are currently vacant and in a severely dilapidated state both internally and externally”, a planning statement reads. “The proposals would present a significant opportunity to achieve a high-quality development including the upgrading of the existing elevations, including the front and rear façade, to complement the street scene and enhance the area.”
It’s not the first time Davidovich has tried to redevelop the hotel. His plans to merge both buildings into one mega-mansion were rejected in 2020, as Kensington and Chelsea council had concerns over the loss of the hotel accommodation and quality of the proposed flats.
Davidovich appealed the decision, but the inspector sided with the council, arguing the one-home proposal did not “optimise the site’s potential for a mix of accommodation”. However, the inspector accepted that the loss of the “modest” 12-room hotel was acceptable, given that it had been closed for four years and had been marketed for 12 months with no clear interest.
According to reports submitted by Davidovich, the hotel would be too small to interest most operators and would require significant investment, with £8million needed just to fix up the building. The inspector agreed the Clearlake hotel had been in decline and had clearly offered a “poor quality” of accommodation going by the many poor reviews from customers.
This decision paved the way for council’s approval of Davidovich’s plans to convert number 19 into three flats in 2020. This latest application is a revised version of that scheme but for both buildings and seven homes.
Davidovich was transferred ownership of Abramovich’s British Virgin Islands company Norma Investments on February 24, according to the Wall Street Journal. Once described by Forbes as Abramovich’s “lower-profile right-hand man”, the two men have invested in many companies together.
Davidovich’s current wealth is unknown but Forbes estimated in 2011 that it was $1.6 billion with the source of his fortune coming from Prodo, Russia’s second biggest meat and meat products processing company.
In a brief statement via Design Solutions, which drew up the plans, Davidovich confirmed he was converting the two properties into seven homes.
