Paddington Basin

Redevelopment

The contractors of a developers' consortium in partnership with the Canal and River Trust (and its predecessor British Waterways) in 2000 drained, cleaned and repaired the basin. In the latter half of the 20th century the basin attracted small and medium-sized commercial offices and is in part lined by specialist and private healthcare wings of St Mary's Hospital. The basin has become home to a wide range of companies, such as Marks & Spencer, the head office of which moved from Baker Street in 2004.

Most of the land north of the canal basin forms the 2010s development Merchant Square, North Wharf Road. Its main developer European Land and Property is a joint venture of Simon and David Reuben (the Reuben brothers) and the Jarvis family. In all, the development around Paddington Basin is creating 2000000 sqft of offices, homes, shops and leisure facilities. Its western buildings were mainly complete and occupied by 2018. ;Completed building

• Paddington Walk is a block of 232 flats designed by Munkenbeck & Marshall that completed in August 2005.
• The Point (224,000 sq ft) and Waterside (240,000 sq ft) are office blocks designed by Terry Farrell and Partners and the Richard Rogers Partnership respectively.

The original plan for the eastern end envisaged a commercial development focused around the Grand Union Basin and included the Winding building and the Grand Union building. The revised scheme comprised six linked blocks of 30 storeys totalling 860000 sqft of mixed-use space,

The Health Campus scheme collapsed in 2005 and in February 2006 the Paddington Development Corporation – which became European Land and Property Ltd – submitted a new planning application. Planning permission was granted on 1 March 2007. 4 Merchant Square, a 16-storey block of 196 flats, designed by Tryfon Kalyvides Partnership, completed in 2013; 5 Merchant Square (formerly Carmine) is a 14-storey office block of 255000 sqft designed by Mossessian and Partners which became fully let by 2015. Part of the building is occupied by Marks & Spencer, which also occupies the Waterside Building.

In late 2021, Premier Inn constructed their largest, non-airport, hotel in Greater London on the north bank of the basin. The development was completed in March 2022.

3 Merchant Square, a 21-storey development of 159 luxury apartments and 42 standard apartments, was completed in summer 2014. 1 Merchant Square is a residential tower of 42 storeys designed by Robin Partington Architects, currently under construction as of 2015, which will be the tallest building in the City of Westminster, containing just over 200 residential units, a 90-room boutique hotel and a sky bar. 2 Merchant Square will be a 16-storey office building providing 162000 sqft of Grade A space with 4400 sqft of retail space. 6 Merchant Square will offer 119 apartments over 15 floors.

Merchant Square surrounds a central square. A life-size sculpture in memory of Sir Simon Milton was unveiled in September 2014 by Eric Pickles MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. The sculpture, designed by Bruce Denny, follows Sir Simon's pivotal role in facilitating the regeneration of Paddington Basin.

Pedestrian bridges

The basin has creatively designed pedestrian bridges:

• The Rolling Bridge
• The Fan Bridge

The Fan Bridge opened in autumn 2014 and moves with the motion of a Japanese hand fan.

Transport

The nearest London Underground stations are Edgware Road and Paddington, the latter also being served by National Rail.

References

References

1. "Paddington Basin / Merchant Square". Paddington Waterside Partnership.
2. (2010). "Grand Union Building". Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners.
3. Davey, Jenny. (11 February 2006). "Developers to submit £700m Paddington Basin plans". [[The Times.
4. (May 2009). "Paddington Special Policy Area Factsheet". Planning & City Development Department, City of Westminster.
5. "20 May 2011 Media Release". Reuben Brothers.
6. Buckley, James. (3 July 2013). "Three Merchant Square tops out". CoStar Co..
7. (2014). "Merchant Square". Paddington Waterside Partnership.
8. (2015). "Five Merchant Square Fully Let". CoStar.
9. "Marks & Spencer". Paddington Waterside Partnership.
10. Wright, Emily. (12 January 2013). "Bank on Success". Estates Gazette.
11. Spittles, David. (6 November 2012). "London is becoming a vertical metropolis". [[London Evening Standard]].
12. "2 Merchant Square". European Land and Property Ltd.
13. "6 Merchant Square". European Land and Property Ltd.
14. (2014). "Eric Pickles to unveil statue of former Deputy London Mayor Sir Simon Milton". Get West London.
15. O'Cealleigh, John. (16 May 2013). "The 'Fan Bridge': Paddington's new landmark". [[The Daily Telegraph]].