KUALA LUMPUR: Battersea Power Station has appointed master planner and strategic urban design practice, Studio Egret West, to evolve the original Rafael Viñoly masterplan for the remaining 6.47 hectares (16 acres) of the 16.99-hectare (42-acre) riverside neighbourhood.
The new plans is expected to deliver up to 3.2 million square feet (sq ft) of residential, commercial, cultural and leisure space, marking the next phase in one of the most significant large-scale brownfield regeneration projects in central London.
Studio Egret West’s appointment would ensure the project fully reflects the changes in societal behaviour and technology for the future, the Battersea Power Station Development Company said in a statement.
It also said the plans would advance the neighbourhood’s rich mixed-use offering, while contributing to the Mayor of London’s Growth Plan.
Having laid derelict for nearly three decades, Battersea Power Station was purchased by its current Malaysian shareholders in 2012 and has since been transformed into a vibrant mixed-use destination featuring over 2,200 homes, about 800,000 sq ft of office space, a new Zone 1 London Underground station and more than 150 retail, dining and leisure outlets.
The Grade II-listed power station, which reopened to the public in 2022 following an eight-year restoration, has welcomed over 40 million visitors from the United Kingdom and internationally.
The final phases of Battersea Power Station would connect to the new Nine Elms Park, a 5.66-hectare (14-acre) green space running from Vauxhall, through Nine Elms and concluding at the six-acre riverfront Power Station Park.
Meanwhile, construction of two new Gehry-designed buildings, completing Electric Boulevard, is expected to commence in the coming months.
Battersea Power Station and Wandsworth Council have also announced plans to deliver around 200 new council homes as part of the council’s Homes for Wandsworth programme in the future phases, subject to planning and funding approvals.
Battersea Project Holding Company chairman Tan Sri Shahril Ridza Ridzuan said the review of the original plans comes at a critical juncture, noting that cities have evolved significantly since the project began in 2012.
"I speak on behalf of the shareholders in saying that London remains one of the most captivating and innovative cities in the world, driven by growth and being supportive of inward investment.
"We are proud of the contribution Battersea Power Station has made to this great city," he said.
The transformation of Battersea Power Station has been accomplished through its shareholders namely SP Setia, Sime Darby Property
and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
In 2019, Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) and EPF became the long-term commercial asset holders of the power station, reflecting their long-term commitment to the project. - Bernama
