A 980ft glass chimney that will ventilate 2.5m sq ft of office space was revealed this week as part of ambitious plans to transform one of
The extraordinary funnel-shaped structure is the most radical element in Treasury Holding’s vision for a futuristic regeneration of the Battersea Power Station site in south
The Raphael Viñoly-designed scheme will cost £4bn to build and the Irish developer, which owns the site through London-listed Real Estate Opportunities, said it would go much further than “bolting on green gadgets”. It hopes to create the
“We want to create something really impressive that will attract grade A office occupiers,” said Treasury Holdings’
The project will incorporate an onsite biofuel power station that will supply the site and pump out clean water vapour through two of the original power station’s iconic chimneys.
Transport levy proposed
Treasury believes that tackling the lack of public transport will be critical to the scheme’s success and to the extra density. It has begun lobbying for an extension of the Northern line from Kennington to a new station on the site.
Talks are also under way between Transport for
Parkview International, which sold the site to REO for £400m in late 2006, had wanted a 3m sq ft leisure-led scheme, and in the 1980s John Broome tried to turn the power station into a theme park.
REO’s 8m sq ft project would comprise 3m sq ft of housing, 2.5m sq ft of offices, 900,000 sq ft of retail and 1.5m sq ft of leisure-led uses. There will also be a 6-acre park.
Plans will be submitted to Wandsworth council by early 2009 and REO expects a public inquiry.
Its biggest battle is likely to be convincing planners to allow the vast “eco-dome”, which would rise to a 980ft chimney to the south of the site.
The eco-dome – made from a similar material to the Eden Project in
The top 200ft of the new chimney will be clear glass, while flats will be built around the rest.
The masterplan also incorporates four separate residential blocks surrounding the site and six levels of residential accommodation in the former power station.
“This is one of the most extraordinary spaces I’ve ever been in,” said Viñoly.
REO will spend £150m on making the dilapidated Grade II listed power station safe to redevelop, including demolishing and rebuilding its four iconic chimneys.
It will then transform it into a mixed-use complex with shops, a boutique hotel and an energy museum. A glass restaurant will be built beneath the listed cranes in front of the station.
“The power station will become the Grand Central Station of London,” said Tincknell. “It will be a lively building, day and night. It’s not like a theme park or an arena, where it’s difficult to prove on day one that it will work.”
TIMELINE
2008-09 Detailed public consultation to start this summer and lack of public transport to be resolved, followed by planning application by early next year
2010-11 REO expects a public inquiry, but hopes to win consent in three years
2011-13 Battersea Power Station to be restored and redeveloped as a mixed-use complex with flats, a boutique hotel, shops and roof gardens
2015 Battersea Power Station opens to the public
2012-16 Four residential blocks to go up around the site and work to start on eco-dome
2014-19 The Chimney will be constructed and 2.5m sq ft of offices will be developed within the eco-dome
2020 Transformation of the site is complete, creating homes for 26,000 people and commercial space for 28,000 workers. People will make 160,000 trips to and from the site per day
