Green light for final phase of Merchant Square

08 June 2007 - Estates Gazette

Green light for final phase of Merchant Square

By Paul Norman - Estates Gazette June 8 2007

The Reuben Brothers and Bruce Jarvis’s Pearcroft have gained consent for three of the final four buildings at their 1.8m sq ft Merchant Square development in Paddington, W2.

The joint venture’s European Land & Holdings has got the go-ahead for:

A residential block comprising 140 flats with retail at ground floor designed by Mossessian & Partners and Perkins & Will

Two office buildings designed by Perkins & Will comprising 160,000 sq ft and 200,000 sq ft respectively

However, the focal point of this phase of the scheme - a 43-storey tower designed by Perkins & Will - will only get the final go-ahead following "clarification of detailed matters".

Plans for the tower currently comprise 223 houses (70% private and 30% affordable), retail at ground floor, 152 underground car parking spaces and a viewing gallery at the 43rd floor.

Consent for the first phase, comprising 420,000 sq ft of offices and a 16-storey, 275,000 sq ft block of flats, was granted in March 2007.

Howard Wright, project director at European Land, said: “We have worked very closely with their planning team and CABE to ensure that all the buildings are of the highest standards and meet Westminster’s demanding criteria for new buildings in the borough.”