The proposals by Crossrail include the construction of a 200,000 square feet block at the corner of Cowcross Street and Farringdon Road, which will comprise offices on the six upper floors and shops at ground floor level.
The original plans for the scheme, which were submitted to Islington Council in June last year, were deferred at planning committee in December. The plans have since been amended to address concerns raised at the committee meeting, including changes to the proposed building's bulk, massing and design.
The Council's planning officers said in the committee report (50-page / 1.46MB PDF) that the removal of some of the bulk and massing from the development had resulted in a "less overbearing building". They said that the amended proposal provides "more generous spaces between the adjacent buildings on the junction and reduces the overall sense of enclosure experienced by neighbouring occupiers".
"The revised design of the proposal would result in a reduced impact on neighbouring residential amenity and an overall improvement to the design and appearance of the building," the officers concluded.
The scheme is one of two over-site developments planned in the Farringdon area. In June, Crossrail submitted an application to the City of London for a five-storey office scheme to sit above the eastern ticket hall in Lindsey Street opposite Smithfield Market.
Grant of planning permission for the Cowcross scheme will be subject to the completion of a Section 106 Agreement and to any directions by the Mayor of London and Secretary of State to call in the application for determination.
