Battersea Power Station has submitted a planning application to evolve the development’s masterplan for the remaining 16 acres of the 42-acre riverside neighbourhood, setting out an ambitious vision for the next chapter of one of Central London’s last large-scale brownfield sites.
Proposing up to 3.2 million square feet of residential, commercial and leisure space across 16 acres, the future phases of Battersea Power Station will nearly double the scale of development already delivered across the thriving riverside neighbourhood.
Renowned master planner, urban designer and landscape architect, Studio Egret West, has refreshed the original masterplan by Rafael Viñoly, which is over 15 years old, to respond to major changes in urban living, working and how people spend their leisure time. It also reflects feedback received through public consultation and stakeholder engagement which took place throughout the summer.
Recognising the diverse needs of people living within a city and building on the success of the first half of the riverside neighbourhood, the future phases will continue to follow a mixed-use approach. Commercial spaces of varying sizes and designs will support a broad range of businesses, alongside new homes, cultural and leisure venues, furthering Battersea Power Station’s vision of creating a vibrant and inclusive place for all.
Studio Egret West’s new proposals adapt Viñoly’s original masterplan by dividing each of the remaining phases into clusters of smaller buildings, helping the neighbourhood to feel more open and connected with the wider area. The plans also introduce a finer network of streets, laneways, courtyards and passages, which will give people a greater choice about how they move through the neighbourhood.
New sightlines through the future buildings will create stronger visual connections to the Power Station, helping the local community engage with the restored landmark while ensuring it remains the dominant architectural feature of the riverside neighbourhood.
The emerging landscaping proposals help to stitch Battersea Power Station together with the wider Nine Elms area, by including a ‘green handshake’ across Nine Elms Lane connecting directly to Nine Elms Park. A planting strategy has also been developed with biodiversity and a changing climate in mind, featuring a varied mix of resilient species and references to Battersea’s history, including lavender.
A ‘Third Generator’ is a core part of the emerging vision. Inspired by the Power Station’s history of generating one-fifth of London’s electricity. The ambition is to create a dynamic venue that brings together a diverse mix of uses and experiences spanning the arts, music, fashion, food, education, sport and the wider creative industries.
Phase 5A, within the future phases, has already received detailed planning permission and will deliver 200 new council homes in partnership with Wandsworth Council. The remaining phases will be subject to design detail and Reserved Matters applications.
Tan Sri Shahril Ridza Ridzuan, Chairman of Battersea Project Holding Company, said: “The submission of our revised masterplan for the remaining 16-acres of Battersea Power Station is a critical step forward in realising the vision for this vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood. Projects of this scale and ambition take decades to bring to fruition, during which time cities naturally evolve and advance and it’s our duty as custodians of a major undeveloped part of the city to take account of these adjustments. When we embarked on this project in 2012, we understood the scale of the challenge ahead, from restoring a derelict Grade II* listed landmark to investing in major public infrastructure to support the mixed-use eco-system. Our steadfastness and relentless commitment to delivery remains as strong today as it was 14 years ago and this is reflected in our ambitious revised masterplan for the remaining phases.”
