Decision on Renzo Piano scheme by end of year

Renzo Piano’s revised scheme at Paddington has been submitted to planners at Westminster council.

Now called the Paddington Cube, a decision on the 14-storey office building is expected to be made by council planners this December.

Developer Irvine Sellar has said he wants the west London project to do for the Paddington area what Argent’s regeneration of King’s Cross had done for that part of north London.

The 33,500sq m building will sit 12m above 0.5ha of new public realm which will include a new public plaza created through the pedestrianisation of London Street.

The £775m scheme will also include 8,000sq m of retail and restaurant space over five levels including a rooftop restaurant. The work on the site of the former Royal Mail sorting office will also include a new station for the Bakerloo underground line.

Earlier this year, Sellar scrapped proposals for a 72-storey skyscraped nicknamed the Paddington Pole, which was to include 330 luxury flats. It was subjected to fierce opposition from residents and heritage groups including Historic England and the Royal Parks.