Waterside

The design for Paddington Waterside forms part of an overall masterplan for ten acres of largely vacant and underused land to the north of Paddington Basin, which terminates the Grand Union Canal. Strategically the site is at the heart of the largest designated regeneration area in Central London, within walking distance of excellent public transport connections. The site was previously occupied by various industrial buildings, including a brick works. In more recent times the site has been cleared and used as a parking compound. Paddington Basin itself has been classified by British Waterways as an ‘event space’ and as such offers the opportunity for a vibrant public space with close proximity to the activities of the waterway.

The client and landlord for the site, Chelsfield Plc and Paddington Basin Development Limited respectively, commissioned RRP to develop a proposal for a substantial mixed-use development with a significant proportion of commercial accommodation to cater for up to 20 tenants. However the entire building was pre-let to a single tenant, Marks & Spencer, during construction phase.