Report comment

Be in no doubt; if this tower is consented it would open the floodgates to multiple towers in Paddington and elsewhere. If a 72-storey tower can be consented in a mainly residential low rise area against all Westminster's historic planning policies there will be no mechanism to resist the worst kind of towers everywhere. At the last count (more than a year ago) there were already 260 consents for tall buildings in London. The city is losing its distinctive character.

Moreover, the public consultation for Piano's tower is being rushed through. The first public consultation was at the end of October; the height was then increased by 9 floors and the application lodged in mid-December so the formal consultation period was mainly over Christmas/New Year. It has now been extended after protests but only to the end of January. This just isn't good enough; it's a scheme of huge importance for the whole of London, not just the surrounding streets.