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 project off Kensington High Street.

The Russian-born billionaire is not on any sanctions list but has been in the spotlight following reports that Ambramovich transferred ownership of one of his investment companies to him on the day Russia invaded Ukraine.

Davidovich’s expansion plans come as other Russian billionaires – including Ambramovich – begin to sell London assets or pull out of property deals in the capital, fearing they could be caught in sanctions.

According to an analysis by Transparency International, Russians own at least £1.5 billion in properties in the UK, much of it in major London areas like Belgravia and Kensington. In 2017, Davidovich purchased the Clearlake Hotel and adjoining building on Prince of Wales Terrace.

The Clearlake, which closed in 2015, was previously owned and operated by the Herskovits family, an elderly couple who had also lived on 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 wanderers.

Empty for years, today the pair of stucco mansions are crumbling into an otherwise smart 19.^and century row of terraces. Windows and doors are boarded up, loose wires hang from the roof while the interior of the buildings must be completely stripped.

But plans filed with the council reveal that Davidovich wants to restore the buildings facade to its “original splendor” with a large-scale refurbishment of its exterior and a complete interior remodel.

According to the plans, still under study, the seven apartments would be built horizontally to improve the layout and circulation of the rooms. There are also plans for a single story basement excavation to provide additional storage.

“The buildings are currently vacant and in a seriously dilapidated condition, both inside and out,” a planning statement read. “The proposals would present a significant opportunity to achieve a high quality development, including upgrading existing elevations, including the front and rear facade, to complement the street scene and enhance the area.”

This isn’t the first time Davidovitch has attempted to redevelop the hotel. His plan to merge the two buildings into a single mega-mansion was rejected in 2020 amid concerns from Kensington and Chelsea Council over the loss of hotel accommodation and the quality of apartments on offer.

Davidovich appealed the decision, but the inspector sided with the council, arguing that the house proposal “did not optimize the site’s potential for accommodation mix”. However, the inspector admitted that the loss of the “modest” 12-room hotel was acceptable, given that it had been closed for four years and marketed for 12 months with no clear interest.

According to reports submitted by Davidovich, the hotel would be too small to be of interest to most operators and would require significant investment, with £8 million needed just to repair the building. The inspector agreed that the Clearlake Hotel was in decline and had clearly offered ‘poor quality’ accommodation based on the many negative guest reviews.

The move paved the way for council to approve Davidovich’s plans to convert Number 19 into three apartments in 2020. This latest application is a revised version of that scheme, but for buildings and seven houses.

Davidovich transferred ownership of Abramovich’s Norma Investments company in the British Virgin Islands on Feb. 24, according to the Wall Street Journal. Once described by Forbes as Abramovich’s “quiet right-hand man”, the pair have invested in numerous ventures 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-largest 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.