Unite Students and Travis Perkins’ plans for a 605-bed PBSA scheme in Paddington have been signed off by the Mayor of London’s planning deputy.
The proposed 20-storey development was called in by Sadiq Khan in March after it had been rejected for the second time by Westminster City Council in January.
The council rejected the scaled-down plans for the second time due to concerns over the scheme’s height and scale, as well as the impact on daylight for existing nearby residents, with councillors saying it would cause a “significant loss of daylight” and a “sense of enclosure”.
Jules Pipe, the deputy mayor of London for planning, regeneration and skills, overturned the decision at a hearing last week, following the recommendation to approve the scheme by the Greater London Authority’s planning officers.
Westminster residents had the opportunity to voice their concerns at the hearing, with Pipe agreeing that it was “inevitable” that the new development would impact the residents of nearby Sheldon Square.
Pipe said: “While I accept the losses of daylight and sunlight are high, it is considered that the retained levels are within the acceptable ranges given the urban context.”
Westminster City Council had also suggested that the new scheme would cause harm to the setting of nearby Grade II listed buildings, and, while Pipe, accepted that there would be “some harm” to heritage assets, it would be “less than substantial” and that the benefits of the scheme outweighed the issues caused.
As part of the plans, designed by Make Architects, a Travis Perkins builders’ merchants will be demolished on Harrow Road, with a new branch created at ground level below the new student accommodation block.
The plans also include an indoor community space with access to a new canalside path, a new public walkway under Bishops Bridge Road and improvements to canal moorings.
