Letter: Let the Wren soar above a piazza in Paternoster Square

From Mr Kenneth Powell

Sir: My personal view is that there is a strong case for a refurbishment- based scheme for Paternoster Square. The existing buildings are well constructed, of good materials and have a lot of life left in them. They are, in fact, rather better than Jonathan Glancey suggests. The scheme is arguably one of the better products of the property boom of the Macmillan era.

The expanding market for hotels, shopping and housing within the City provides further support for refurbishment (which could be radical). The problem may be that the vast amount spent on acquiring the site and developing the present scheme means that the owners are looking for maximum profit in the office market. They would argue that the buildings are not adequate for modern corporate requirements.

Yours,

Kenneth Powell

London, EC1