Developer Irvine Sellar unveils £1bn “Shard of west London” to rejuvenate Paddington
Irvine Sellar, the man behind The Shard, has unveiled his latest proposals for a larger-than-life tower – and they don't disappoint.
The developer has used Shard architect Renzo Piano to design a 65-storey building for a site next to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington.
The new building will be 65 storeys high (rather than its sister tower's 72 storeys), and will include 200 new homes, more than 150,000 sq ft of office space and 50,000 sq ft of retail – as well as a "new and enlarged Bakerloo line ticket hall" for Paddington Station.
The building will "significantly enhance connectivity for the Bakerloo line, while creating a much deserved front door and an elegant new building for London topped with a stunning open air roof garden, inspired by Kew Gardens and London's squares", suggested Sellar, who will submit a planning application later this year.
"We believe this exciting proposal will tap into the potential of Paddington and will prove to be a major catalyst for the continuing enhancement of the area, especially Praed Street – in much the same way that The Shard did for London Bridge," he added
"This site shares much of the same DNA with its proximity to a major transport hub with tube, railway lines and bus routes, a neighbouring leading teaching hospital and the potential to provide much needed quality public realm.”