Mayor’s deputy approves 605-bedroom student tower in Paddington after call-in

Sadiq Khan’s planning deputy has signed off on the construction of a 605-bedroom student accommodation scheme in Paddington.

Plans by Unite Students and Travis Perkins for the 20-storey development were called in by the mayor of London in March after being rejected for the second time by Westminster in January.

The plans were thrown out due to its height, scale and impact on daylight on nearby residents - a decision which followed a previous refusal for a larger version of the job in 2022.

However, at a hearing last week, deputy mayor of London for planning, regeneration and skills, Jules Pipe, overturned the decision, accepting the recommendation of the Greater London Authority’s planning officers to approve the scheme.

Pipe heard from Westminster residents that the proposals would lead to harm to the residents of Sheldon Square and agreed that these impacts were the “inevitable” consequence of the scheme.

“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,” he said.

He said the design and layout of the scheme was “well considered” in the context of the site constraints and that while there was “some harm” to heritage assets, it was “less than substantial” and outweighed by the benefits of the scheme.

The scheme, which was designed by Make Architects, will involve the demolition of all existing buildings on the site, although a builders’ merchant will be reprovided alongside the purpose-built student accommodation. 

It will also include a community space with a canal side path, canal mooring improvements and a new public walkway under Bishops Bridge Road Bridge.

The developers have committed to deliver 30% on-site affordable as well as a £3.5m payment in lieu for further affordable housing delivery in the borough. 

The site is located behind Paddington station and next to Fletcher Priest’s Brunel Building. 

The project team includes Gerald Eve on planning, Arup on transport, GIA on daylight, Tavernor Consultancy on heritage, Waterman on MEP, Meinhardt as structural and facade engineer, BDP as landscape architect and AtkinsRealis as principal designer.