Westminster planners approve 240,000 sq ft Baker Street scheme

Derwent London and Lazari Investments’ joint venture has secured planning permission for a 240,000 sq ft scheme on Baker Street, W1, which will nearly double the space offered by existing buildings on the site. The decision was made at Westminster’s major applications planning committee meeting on Tuesday evening after it was pulled from the 25 June meeting. The partners have proposed to knock down existing buildings at 38-70 Baker Street, 64-66 Blandford Street, and 43-45 Dorset Street and replace them with two seven-storey buildings, totalling 240,000 sq ft. One will be a mixed-use commercial space comprised of offices, retail and community space, as well as a rooftop terrace. The other will contain 17 flats. The Portman Estate will hold an interest in the proposed scheme as the freeholder. The community space will be used for cultural and educational activities and managed by Baker Street Quarter Partnership, let at a peppercorn rent. The approval is conditional on some alterations to the proposals, including decorative louvres to the east façade and to the flank wall to Dorset Street. This is a resolution to be referred to the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. Ruth Bush, chair of planning, has called on the developers to ensure anything that is still to be negotiated with officers is done with “sensitivity”. She said: “The negative aspect of [the scheme] size will not be overcome. It may be outweighed technically by the benefits, but it is not going to be overcome. So anything you can do to make it more human would really help.”Gerald Eve advised on planning. Image © Derwent London and Lazari Investments