Crossrail Undermines Paddington Tower Scheme

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Land Securities has lodged objections to Crossrail's plans for major infrastructure works as part of a new station at London's Paddington.

Land Securities has lodged objections to Crossrail's plans for major infrastructure works as part of a new station at London's Paddington on the grounds that it will frustrate its plans for a major redevelopment of one of Paddington Station's landmark tower blocks.

Westminster Council will this Thursday consider Crossrail's plans for a new sation, directly affecting the LandSec estate which neighbours the station.

As with many developers and landowners, LandSecs has already petitioned for compensation from Crossrail for the disruption caused to affected sites.  The tower provide about 80,000 sq ft of offices and is the final part of the refurbishment works at 20 Eastbourne Terrace.

In a recent submission however LandSecs has also complained that the plans "will cause massive disruption to [our] proposals to implement refurbishment works at 20 Eastbourne Terrace which intend to start on site in January 2012 and complete in January 2014."

LandSecs is understood to be concerned that the Crossrail plans will now lead to a full road closure at Eastbourne Terrace, a change to previous proposals that would have seen two lanes kept up and running and would have enabled development.  Local cabbies servicing the station are less restrained in their criticisms!

Council officers are understood to be in favour of the Crossrail proposal as it will "preserve a site of archaeological and historic interest and does not affect a site of nature conservation and value." So that's all right, then!

Source: ask-re The Property People LLP