Sellar, on behalf of Great Western Developments Ltd. (“GWD”), today announced that formal construction of Paddington Square has commenced, representing a £825m transformation of the Paddington Station area.
Paddington Square, designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano, will incorporate 360,000 sq ft of prime office space, 75,220 sq ft of world-class retail and dining space, a 13,650 sq ft rooftop restaurant and a new 1.35 acre public square. The development will also deliver a much needed £65m investment into London’s transport infrastructure that will provide a new Bakerloo Line ticket hall in Paddington Station.
The start of the project’s construction marks major progress on site to date, including the demolition of the former Royal Mail Sorting Office at 31 London Street and adjacent buildings on Praed Street, as well as piling and basement box works that are now well underway. These works will enable the creation of the new transport infrastructure and four levels of retail, located directly beneath the office building and public square.
James Sellar, CEO of Sellar, said: “Paddington Square sits as the centrepiece of the transformation of Paddington. In starting construction on site we now move into an exciting new chapter for the development. Our ambition is to deliver something of true value for London which celebrates the best of design, retail, workspace and dining in one of the most connected parts of the city. Paddington has always been a gateway to London and a centre of innovation, and we look forward to creating a scheme that is a reflection of both a forward-thinking area, and a future-facing city.”
The scheme will also bring about the pedestrianisation of London Street, enabling a direct pedestrian link between the mainline station and Paddington Square, which, together with the new Bakerloo line entrances, will eradicate the rush hour traffic that has beset the area for years.
The piling and basement box phase of construction is expected to be completed by summer 2020. Mace will then formally begin construction of the main Paddington Square office building, with completion of the scheme anticipated by 2022.
Article by Kay Buxton
