Plans for Grosvenor’s divisive Mayfair scheme set for approval

Westminster City Council’s planing officers have recommended Grosvenor’s plans to transform the South Molton Triangle in Mayfair, W1, be approved. The proposals for the two-acre triangle bounded by South Molton Street, Davies Street and Brook Street will see a 61.4% uplift in the total floorspace provided at the site to 358,148 sq ft. Grosvenor is looking to nearly double the amount of office space to 204,000 sq ft, as well as provide 67,000 sq ft of shops, restaurants and cafes, a 31-bed hotel and 33 homes, of which 22 will be for the open market and 11 affordable. The new buildings are expected to produce 35% less carbon than ones built to current UK standards, and will be serviced by electric vehicles to reduce street pollution and traffic. However, London mayor Sadiq Khan has expressed concerns that the scheme does not fully comply with the London plan regarding prices of the affordable housing, and has also requested an early stage review mechanism be secured to incentivise delivery of the affordable housing aspect. Historic England has also said the development would “result in harm to the significance of the Mayfair Conservation Area and some [unspecified] listed buildings”. Objections over harm to heritage assets and the bulk and massing of parts of the proposals have also been received from The Georgian Society, The Victorian Society and The London and Middlesex Archaeological Society. To send feedback, e-mail louise.dransfield@egi.co.uk or tweet @DransfieldL or @estatesgazette