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Property tycoon Irvine Sellar today said his new £775 million Cube development will help to give “tatty” Paddington a Shard-style shot in the arm.

The 19-storey glass cube by architect Renzo Piano was last night given the green light by Westminster Council.

The project is set to completely regenerate the area, providing more than an acre of redesigned public space with £2million of art in a piazza, shops, restaurants, offices and underground access to a new Bakerloo line tube station.

Last night the developers made an “eleventh hour” offer to build and fund a new road for ambulances accessing St Mary’s Hospital which helped clinch planning approval.

Sellar told the Standard: “This will kick-start a total, needed new development which will bring jobs, better connectivity - because the connectivity is terrible.

“The fact we are going to provide a proper ambulance route is fine and we are prepared to continue to work with the hospital.

“I think it’s a great thing for Paddington and everybody who uses it says can you do what you have done at the Shard.

“The Shard has changed the area completely and the same thing will happen here. It will bring tremendous change. It will be in a different way and a different style to the Shard – I never want to do a repeat. It will be a landmark and we won’t stop at this development.

“There’s a huge amount of work ahead - but that’s what developers are - we look for punishment.”

Great Western Developments promise the scheme will ease congestion and bring 4,000 jobs as well as £65million investment in public space and infrastructure

Councillor Robert Davis, Westminster City Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for the Built Environment, described Paddington as the “front door” to London and added: “Designed by Renzo Piano, one the great architects of our time, these plans are a game-changer, breathing fresh life into the area.”

He told the packed meeting hall: “I think it’s a very clever design the way it sits there and the way it’s transparent. It’s like a pure ice cube and something I think is going to add to the area.

“This area is probably not our proudest part of Westminster.

“It is the gateway for many people to Westminster and London. Many people travelling from West Country, abroad to Heathrow via the Heathrow express and in due course coming in via Crossrail.

“It is quite disgraceful, it is not for working, it looks tatty, it doesn’t work in terms of pedestrian movement, it’s not a very comfortable place to go and visit.

“The enhancement to the public realm is so substantial and important that not only will it be a game changer to this whole area and lead to further investment and improvements but also provide benefits to commuters on their daily commute.”

Coun Davis compared the Paddington Cube to the Shard at London Bridge and added: “I think that can be achieved here – if not better – I think this will be a better environment than where the Shard is.”

The Cube replaced Piano’s previous 72-storey skyscraper project, known as the “Paddington Pole”, which was scrapped following an outcry from locals.