Battersea Powers Up

Details have been released of the plans for the redevelopment of Battersea Power-station, and this time unlike the numerous previous attempts, they look like actually going ahead.

The 100 metre tall power-station which has become an icon piece of architecture in London, perhaps what is most closely associated with the industrial age, has been struck with problems ever since it was shut partly thanks to its listed status and the sheer size of any project to incorporate it into a new design.

The first stage of the work is the repairs on the building which has been lying empty for over 20 years. These should allow the £500 million work by developer Parkview International to begin on the surrounding projects in around May for a 2009 completion.

The masterplan includes a sweeping crescent luxury hotel containing 460 rooms overlooking a public square, a second hotel of multicoloured modernist-like blocks with 670 rooms, residential buildings totalling 700 studios and apartments not to mention 21,000 sq m of offices. Other changes include a brand new Battersea Bridge railway station, an entirely new pedestrian bridge, 136,000 sq m of retail space and an 800 capacity ball room.

Top names including Arup Associates and Grimshaw are involved in the design and engineering. This is the latest mega project to get underway in London, north London has already seen Wembley Stadium and the surrounding area start work, which incidentally skyscrapernews.com will soon be visiting to report from.