LandSec a pawn to new heritage listing

  Land Securities is facing a further setback at its proposed £1bn development in London’s Victoria, SW1.   English Heritage has this week confirmed the listing of a six-storey pawnbroker’s shop within the REIT’s 6-acre development site opposite Victoria station.   The Grade II listing of the block by culture minister Andy Burnham will force the developer into further negotiations with Westminster council and EH, and could result in changes to the plans.   EH’s listing advice said that Sutton House, located at 156-158 Victoria Street, has “considerable rarity, and is possibly unique”.   LandSec has already had to make major revisions to its proposals, before finally winning consent from Westminster in February for a 1.48m sq ft mixed-use scheme.   The plans had been rejected twice by the council over the height of a number of the buildings, and LandSec was forced to halve the size of its original 3m sq ft proposals.   London mayor Boris Johnson also put the viability of the plans under threat with demands for a £20m contribution to Crossrail, before settling for just £1.2m.   A spokeswoman for English Heritage said: “EH is duty-bound to consider any listing application that meets basic criteria, and advise the minister accordingly for him to reach a decision.   “My expectation is that we will now offer to meet with Westminster and the developer to see how this listing can be accommodated.”   A spokesman for LandSec said: “We are awaiting the formal sign-off of the planning application before we can truly assess the effect that the listing would have on our proposals.”   bridget.oconnell@rbi.co.uk