ERITH STARTS ENABLING WORK ON '825M PADDINGTON SQUARE

Demolition specialist Erith is starting enabling works on the '825m scheme to transform the area around Paddington Station in West London.

The project being jointly developed by Sellars Group and Great Western Developments will feature a 14-storey glass cubed-shaped office and retail space.

Erith will have scaffolded the former Royal Mail sorting and post office site adjacent to Paddington Station by the end of this month to allow demolition to start.

Demolition will be completed by the end of the year with the aim of starting construction in the first quarter of 2019.

The main building contract for the project has not yet gone to tender.

Designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop, the 360,000 sq ft office would sit on a three storey podium 12m above 1.35 acres of newly created public realm, giving the scheme its new name,'Paddington Square.

The Bakerloo line Tube station will undergo a rebuild as part of a '65m investment in transport and public realm.

James Sellar, CEO of Sellar, said: 'Paddington Square will dramatically improve transport connectivity with a new Bakerloo line station and a new public space. With the arrival of the new Elizabeth Line, Paddington will become one of the capital's major transport hubs with direct fast links to Heathrow, the West End, the City and Canary Wharf.'

The client team includes Turner + Townsend, acting as construction manager, with WSP delivering structural and M&E design services.

The scheme is due for practical completion by the end of 2021.