Battersea Power Station – update

The Twentieth Century Society sees the four chimneys at Battersea Power Station as absolutely fundamental to the building’s historic importance and iconic status. They remain the most recognisable element of the structure and a key part of London’s skyline.

We urge the new owners to take this unique opportunity to change their strategy and ensure that these historic chimneys are retained as part of the forthcoming works to this grade II * listed power station building.

We remain concerned about the height of the new development – which rise to 17 storeys – planned to be built in very close proximity to the listed power station. This will obscure cherished views of the power station from Chelsea Bridge Road, and other long distance views. We stand by the objections we made when the master plan was granted consent in 2011.

Battersea Power Station’s new owners, the Malaysian consortium of developer SP Setia, conglomerate Sime Darby and Malaysia’s EPF pension company have retained the original masterplan by Rafael Vinoly. This established the height, massing and scale parameters of the whole scheme which includes 3,500 apartments, a conference centre, retail and office space, a public park, a visitor centre and an extended river walk.

The detailed application for phase one of the masterplan, by architects Ian Simpson and de Rijke Marsh Morgan  includes 800 apartments between the power station and the railway. This has been submitted to the London Borough of Wandsworth for planning.