Hines’ reworked plans for a Soho office and retail block have been recommended for approval by planning officers at Westminster City Council.
Earlier proposals for 2-4 Dean Street and 7 Soho Square, W1, were also recommended last year but the council’s planning committee refused them in October on the grounds of height, bulk and design.
Hines lodged revised plans in March that it said removed some of the site’s scale and bulk when seen from Soho Square, as well as featuring a lower parapet line on Dean Street to match the neighbouring property. The new scheme will also have a revised design for the Soho Square and Dean Street facades, and includes a large retail space designated for a supermarket – the original plans were criticised locally for the removal of a much-loved Tesco Express store. Hines said it recognised that the supermarket “is of particular importance to local residents”.
Recommending the new plans for approval if London mayor Sadiq Khan agrees, Westminster planning officers said: “The retention of a food supermarket on the site is a significant change to the scheme and the overall land use package. The scheme is considered acceptable in land use, sustainability/energy, amenity and highways terms.
“In design and townscape terms, the increase in bulk of the new building would still result in some harm but this harm is considered to be at the lower end of less than substantial, which is significantly outweighed by public benefits that the scheme will deliver.”
Image from Hines
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