A High Court judge is to review a decision by communities secretary Sajid Javid not to call in plans for a controversial office-led redevelopment of a former Royal Mail site next to Paddington station in central London.

The proposed "Paddington Cube" is a 19-storey, 54 metre-tall office tower next to the grade I listed Paddington station and within the Bayswater conservation area. 

Construction would require the demolition of a former Royal Mail sorting office that was built in 1907 and is also part of the conservation area.

The plans were approved by Westminster City Council in December 2016 ahead of a final sign-off by the secretary of state, despite concerns from heritage groups including built environment conservation adviser Historic England as well as Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and the London Ambulance Service.

Westminster planners had said the "many and varied benefits" of the development, "including social, economic and regenerative benefits", were "considered collectively to be substantial public benefits, which outweigh the less than substantial harm to heritage assets".

In February, Javid issued an Article 31 holding direction to allow him time to consider whether to call in the application and blocking the scheme from obtaining final approval. In March, he decided not to call it in, meaning the council was able to grant permission.

However, campaign group SAVE Britain's Heritage has now won the right to seek a judicial review over Javid's decision.

SAVE is challenging the secretary of state's failure to give reasons for not calling in the application. A judicial review is now expected to be heard in the High Court within the next three months.

Should the legal challenge succeed and the decision not to call in the proposal be quashed, the communities secretary would have to reconsider the case.

Source: Planning Resource