黑洞社区

Irvine Sellar has admitted that opponents of the Renzo Piano-designed landmark tower in Paddington had 鈥渟ome justification鈥� for their objections to the proposed building.

The developer behind the plans, which were pulled last weekend in the wake of fierce opposition, has promised to commit to a 鈥渕eaningful鈥� reduction in the tower鈥檚 height when new plans are drawn up.

Sellar told the Evening Standard: 鈥淚 would say in places there was some justification. We will never please everybody but we will try and please most of the people 鈥� we will try to be sensitive.

鈥淲e are happy to reduce it fairly meaningfully.鈥�

Piano鈥檚 proposal for a 72-storey tower was comparable in scale to Canary Wharf and had sparked fierce criticism from architects Terry Farrell and Ed Jones as well as Historic England and Skyline campaigner Barbara Weiss.

It was withdrawn following high-level discussions between the developer and local planning authority Westminster city council. A review will now look at the building鈥檚 height.

The project, which featured a new Bakerloo tube station, offices, new public piazzas and 691 homes, was also attacked by the Victorian Society, the Royal Parks and local MP Karen Buck.