黑洞社区

Communities secretary Sajid Javid has decided not to call in Renzo Piano鈥檚 Paddington Cube scheme in London, paving the way for construction of the 拢775m scheme.

Javid had blocked Wesminster city council鈥檚 decision to green light the scheme last month, which is being developed by Sellar Property and Great Western Developments.

But in a letter to the authority dated Wednesday, he said it was right that the decision be 鈥渄etermined by the local planning authority鈥�.

The 19-storey mixed-use scheme had attracted criticism from conservationists including Save Britain鈥檚 Heritage and Historic England, despite the developer鈥檚 earlier decision to lop 58-storeys off the initial version of the scheme in an effort to win round objectors.

The scheme will feature a 33,500 sq m office block that will sit 12m above new public realm.

The plans also include a new public plaza, complete with 拢2m worth of public art, around 7,500sq m of retail and restaurant space over five levels including a rooftop restaurant and a new station for the Bakerloo underground line.

Javid鈥檚 intervention comes after campaigners had raised concerns over the scheme, which lies adjacent to Paddington station and close to St Mary鈥檚 Hospital.

Historic England had raised objections to the proposals within the Bayswater Conservation Area while Save Britain鈥檚 Heritage president Marcus Binney described the plans as a 鈥渧iolation鈥� of Bayswater and Brunel鈥檚 grade I listed train station, saying that it was 鈥済ratuitously overscaled鈥�.