Heritage groups say ‘Paddington Shard’ plans will harm the area

Proposals for a 72-storey “Paddington Shard” skyscraper above the train station have come under attack from the Government’s heritage advisers.

The £1 billion plans to regenerate the “lifeless” west London district were unveiled in October ahead of a planning application with Westminster council expected later this month.

But in an unusually strongly worded response to the plans seen by the Standard, Nigel Barker, planning and conservation director for London at Historic England, said he had “very serious concerns” about the impact on views, historic buildings and parks.

The response, in a letter to the advisers to Sellar Property Group, said: “A building of this scale in this location threatens harm, some of it substantial, to many designated heritage assets across a wide geographical area including listed buildings of all grades, registered historic parks and conservation areas.

"Our view at present is the value of the public benefit offered appears slight compared to the seriously adverse impact on the historic environment.”

The plans for Paddington include 330 apartments, as well as shops and offices on a former Royal Mail site on London Road to the side of the train station.