Pickles clears Battersea scheme

Eric Pickles, communities secretary, has confirmed his support for Treasury Holdings’ regeneration of Battersea Power Station. His backing comes after Wandsworth council approved the outline planning application last November and London mayor Boris Johnson added his own support at the end of 2010.

Treasury Holdings expects work to start on the Grade II listed site next year. The power station will be restored and opened up to the public for the first time and the Northern Line from Kennington will be extended with two new stations. These proposals are crucial to the regeneration of the Vauxhall-Nine Elms-Battersea Opportunity Area. A pedestrian high street and town square are part of the master plan, with space set aside for new shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, offices, a hotel, cinema and other community uses.

A new section of the Thames Path will be created along with a five acre riverside park. Other outdoor recreation spaces will be provided as well as cycle paths and pedestrian walkways.

The work to repair the site will begin at an early stage of the project and its thought the building will be structurally secure by the end of 2016, including the restoration of its four chimneys.