News

Planning consent secured for a major regeneration scheme including a landmark tall building on a key strategic regeneration site in Westminster

On behalf of Berkeley Homes, we have secured a landmark planning consent at the Paddington Green Police Station site in the heart of Westminster, following approval by the Mayor of London at a public hearing.

This builds on our track record of delivering some of the largest and most high-profile development sites in Westminster and Central London, and on our track record of delivering Berkeley’s central London portfolio.

The planning application was called in by the Mayor of London in November 2021 following refusal by Westminster Council’s planning committee, against officer recommendation to approve the application. Following an 18-month period of consultation, community outreach and working collaboratively with the Mayor’s team on revisions to the scheme, the application was subject to a public hearing on 17 March, where the Deputy Mayor Jules Pipe granted planning permission.

Our London Planning Team delivered the landmark scheme, working with Squire & Partners and a range of other consultants, including what will be one of the tallest buildings in Westminster, forming a milestone point marking a key gateway into the West End.

The site previously housed the counter terrorism function of the Metropolitan Police and was the nation’s highest security police station until its decommissioning as part of MOPAC’s wider estate strategy.

The site now forms Phase 3 of Berkeley’s wider West End Gate Masterplan, which is Westminster’s single largest housing site delivering 1,400 homes in total across ten buildings – all of which have been delivered in a series of planning permissions we obtained from 2015 onwards.

The proposal demolishes and redevelops what is an impermeable and hostile urban fortress island on a key gateway site to the West End and Central Westminster, delivering a proposal focused on opening up the site and delivering new routes and permeability, extensive public realm and planting.

The scheme delivers nearly 5,000 sq m of public realm and landscaping, with the centre piece pedestrianisation and stopping up of an existing element of highway, activated by ground floor commercial and community uses to each of the three buildings proposed. Extensive tree planting is proposed around the site, in addition to a range of other focused enhancements to the site and local environment, including to the existing subway under Harrow Road.

The scheme will deliver 556 new homes to Westminster, with 39% affordable housing delivered on site. The tenure mix is geared towards social rented accommodation in line with local need, and to support the decant of tenants as part of Westminster’s neighbouring estate regeneration scheme at Church Street.

The proposals include three buildings of 39, 24 and 17 storeys, including a landmark tall building on the junction of Edgware Road and Harrow Road – two historic routes into and through Central London, creating a cluster of tall buildings at this key junction. At 39 storeys, the tower will be one of the tallest buildings in Westminster, on a site allocated for a tall building within the City Plan (although allocated at a much lower height).

High quality, sustainable architecture and design underpins the proposals, including an on-site renewable energy strategy, and car free development that prioritises walking and cycling through the provision of new infrastructure.

We now look forward to seeing this site delivered, completing Berkeley’s masterplan in what is one of Westminster’s key housing renewal and regeneration areas, to the benefit of the local community, Westminster and London.

30 March 2023