Battersea Power Station Development gets the go ahead
Battersea Power Station ceased to be a power station in 1983. Since then, in part thanks to its Grade II listing, it has sat undisturbed and undeveloped. It has slowly descended into a state of near collapse, with very real fears that it would actually not last until a proposal could be formally developed.
Finally the end does appear to be close for a saga nearly 30 years in the making. Wandsworth Council have accepted a proposal from developer Treasury Holdings for the large scale development across the site, which totals 14.26 hectares.
Their £5.5 billion pound proposal will see the creating of some 15,000 new jobs across a hospitality, office and retail development, along with 3,400 homes. The old powerstation will also be used (in part) to create clean energy through bio fuel, with the soon to be removed and rebuilt chimneys used as water vapour exhausts. The entire project is not scheduled for completion until 2016.
The development plans also include a conference centre, 2 hotels, 2 turbine halls (similar to the one found at The Tate Modern) and a ballroom.
Part of the reason the proposal was passed by Wandsworth council is the inclusion of a £221m package to improve local transport links. These will include 2 new Northern line stations on the Kennington branch, increased bus services for the area as well as pier for the water boat service. Councillor Nick Cuff said The two Northern Line stations will spur on the regeneration of Nine Elms and bring a huge economic windfall to this part of south London.”
The area of Nine Elms surrounding the site is set for major rejuvenation over the next few years with the area soon to be home to the new US embassy.
In February CABE praised the ‘intelligent’ design, whilst at the time raising slight concerns relating to light to lower levels of the apartment blocks.
[Battersea Powerstation]
[BBC News]
