Food court on the menu at Paddington Square

Great Western Developments is pushing ahead with plans to bring food court operator Market Halls into its 1 Paddington Square, W2, scheme. Great Western has applied to Westminster City Council for a change of use across seven shops in the block, turning the space into a food court. Gerald Eve, which is acting for the developers, said in planning documents that the retail and restaurant spaces on the ground and first floors “have been marketed for over two and a half years; however, some have failed to gain traction with any potential occupier”. Now, Great Western is in “detailed discussions” with Market Halls, which would run seven or eight different restaurant offerings in the space, with room for up to 500 diners. The court would be open from 8am until 10pm-midnight for seven days a week. Market Halls already runs food courts in Victoria, Oxford Circus and Canary Wharf. As well as retail and restaurant space, the newly opened Paddington Square includes 350,000 sq ft of office space let to investment manager Capital Group, sustainable packaging company DS Smith and retail group Kingfisher.  Photo: Market Halls Victoria © Market Halls