Marble Arch mound architect paid more than council’s chief executive at £220,000 a year

A top architect was paid a huge salary to lead the Marble Arch Mound project which flopped and ended up costing £6 million.

Elad Eisenstein was given £220,000 a year by Westminster City council and resigned months after the artificial hill opened. He was paid more than the council’s chief executive.

Mr Eisenstein was employed as director of the Tory-led council’s Oxford Street district programme – a £150 million project designed to boost visitors and spending in the West End.

Mr Eisenstein was appointed in October 2020 and resigned in the autumn of 2021.

The council’s Labour group revealed he was paid more than any other council employee – the authority’s chief executive gets £217,545 a year.

A council spokesperson said Mr Eisenstein’s salary was based on the industry standard and he left the job due to personal reasons.

A statement on the council’s website says: “Trained as an architect and urban designer, Elad is a cities and regeneration expert with two decades of experience specialising in leading, designing and delivering complex and large-scale urban projects across the globe.”

The mound was designed by Dutch architects MVRDV and commissioned by Westminster City council in a move to attract visitors back to the West End.

It cost triple its estimated budget and closes on Sunday, January 9.

The pop-up attraction opened in the summer and entry was made free after it was mocked on social media and in the press for its underwhelming views.

Some of the plants dislodged and cascaded down the slopes and the young trees struggled to look their best in the summer heat.

It has been dubbed ‘London’s worst tourist attraction’ and a ‘BTEC Eiffel Tower’.

Melvyn Caplan also resigned as the authority’s deputy leader in August after costs spiralled.

He is still a Conservative councillor representing Little Venice ward.

Labour councillor Paul Dimoldenberg said: “The Marble Arch Mound has been a disaster from start to finish.

“Now we find out that the officer responsible for this financial debacle was paid £220,000 a year, even more than the council’s chief executive.

“The leader of the council needs to explain why she signed off such an enormous salary.

“The Conservative councillors responsible for the Marble Arch Mound should hang their heads in shame and apologise to the people of Westminster for wasting so much public money.”

A council spokesperson said: “The Oxford Street district programme director was a one-off role for a specific and complex project.

“The interview process was an open and competitive one with the council being advised by an independent recruitment firm.

“The package reflected the industry standard for the specialist skills required.

“The Oxford Street district programme director was a fixed term contract role and not a permanent role within the council’s organisation structure.

“Elad Eisenstein resigned from Westminster City Council for personal reasons.”

“Westminster City Council needs to recruit the best talent for managing within a complex organisation whose work involves partnership with central government, the multi-billion economy of the West End and 260,000 residents.”

They said the fake hill had boosted footfall to the West End and helped the area recover from the financial damage caused by the pandemic.

The spokesperson said: “The Mound has done what it was built to do – drawn crowds and supported the recovery in this part of London.

“We’re really pleased that over 242,000 people have visited to see the Mound and the terrific light exhibition inside.”