Find here the history of the Battersea Power Station in London. Described is how it came about and what people wanted to make it into over the years, and how it changed hands.

1. BATTERSEA POWER STATION – A
MIGHTY FALL
A H I S T O R Y O F T H E P O WE R P L A N T

2. THE BATTERSEA POWER STATION
• If you’ve got a pair of eyes, and you’ve been to London, then you’ve
probably seen Battersea Power Station. It’s kind of hard to miss. Its huge
chimneys rise into the air like monolithic landmarks, and although the height
of the building isn’t exactly comparable to a skyscraper – it certainly feels
rather large when you’re standing in front of it.
• It’s an icon, that’s for certain.
Battersea Power Station was
recently put on the market, and there
is now extensive debate on what
should be done to redevelop this
historic landmark. So, let’s have a
look at this iconic buildings history –
and maybe have a look into its future
too.

3. BACK BEFORE THE BLITZ
• Battersea Power Station has that very distinctive industrial feel. It
certainly has all the hallmarks of a building that really exemplifies the
industrial revolution. This is how it looks to us now, but originally it
was a pioneering new design intended to bring power to the crown
jewel in Britain’s empire – London.
• Built in the 1930’s by the London Power
Company, they chose the site so close to the river
Thames in order to make use of the water for
cooling. Many people were outraged by the plans
to build a big industrial building so close to
London’s center,
fearing it would be an
eyesore and might pollute.

4. • But Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, a man
behind iconic designs including
Britain’s famed red telephone
boxes, came in to reassure the
public with a pleasing design for
the building – and construction
went ahead.
• It was finally completed in 1933,
and six workers died during its
construction.

5. ONCE OPERATIONAL
• Battersea Power Station was a coal-fired plant, meaning that coal was
burned in order to power electricity producing turbines. At its peak, the
station required 1 million tonnes of coal a year to operate. Coal was
delivered right to the front of the building via jetties, thanks to its position so
close to the river.
• As a coal-fired power station, water was required to heat the steam used to
propel the electrical turbines. The water was pulled in directly from the
Thames and used to power the plant, after which it was cooled and returned
back into the river. This was an efficient cycle, aided by the power stations
proximity to the river.
• As power technologies improved and Battersea was providing electricity
less efficiently than rival plants, the decision was made to close the power
station in 1975. By this time a generation of Londoners had come and
gone, and many people had lived their entire lives with the building as an
iconic part of London’s skyline. Therefore, efforts were made to declare it a
landmark.

6. AS AN ICON FROM 1975-1983
• Campaigns to grant the
building listed status
were successful, thus
protecting the buildings
structure during any kind
of redevelopment. For
years it languished as an
iconic building without a
use. It became an empty
shell on the inside.

7. • Alton Towers proposed a theme park for the site in
1983, one that would be based around the industrial
history of Britain, and the site was purchased. The
proposal was granted, but after work had
commenced, the project was scrapped due to lack of
funding. The cost of this abandoned work to the structure
of the building has been substantial, portions of the roof
were removed and the site has since been prone to
flooding.

8. • The new owners attempted to adjust their proposal from a theme park to a
mixed commercial office and retail space. Once again the proposal was
granted, but no further work ever took place. And so Battersea languished
once more as a structural icon, without any specific function.

9. AS AN INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT
IN THE NINETIES & NOUGHTIES
• The site had accrued a lot of debt due to it’s virtual abandonment, and after
a lengthy legal process of buying the site – Hong Kong’s Parkview
International bought it with plans to develop it into a shopping mall. It was to
be called The Power Station.
• There were significant protests against this. This particular idea involved
building many other buildings in the surrounding area that would dwarf the
original power plants structure; it was argued this would take something
away from the majesty of the building.
• More difficulties were encountered
when it was found the iconic
chimney structures needed
extensive repairs to be made stable;
some even suggested that new ones
be built in their place – which led to
further protestations from locals.

10. AS A LANDMARK CELEBRATION OF
HERITAGE
• The site was bought for a whopping £400 million by REO in 2006. They
immediately scrapped the proposal from Parkview International and
commissioned celebrated Uruguayan architect Rafael Vinoly to create a
design for the sites redevelopment. Vinoly had worked in Britain
before, designing the Curve Theatre in Leicester.
• The new plan was to cost £4 billion. It involved extensive renovation.
Included within this was an extension to the London Underground, at a cost
of £500 million. Also included was the building of a biomass power station, a
modern reflection of the buildings industrial past, and an accompanying
energy museum. An eco dome was also in REO’s plan.
• However, after extensive planning and fundraising – the financial crisis
rocked the world. Suddenly REO had all it’s lenders and creditors calling in
what was owed for the best part of 6 years and the project collapsed under
its own weight, having become too financially cumbersome to manage. This
was officially announced in late 2011 – and the building languished once
again.

11. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
• Several bids for the site have been put forward since the collapse of the
REO project. One in particular involved demolition of most of the building; it
was therefore rejected due to the buildings listed status. This proposal, put
forward by architect Sir Terry Farrell, was to make the site into an urban
park.
• Chelsea Football Club declared
an interest, though they didn’t
propose anything concrete, in
moving their clubs ground to the
site. It was however considered
detrimental to the buildings
internal structure – and the idea
never took off.

12. • The power station was put on to the open market in 2012, sending Battersea
estate agents into a frenzy as whomever bought it would encourage
extensive regeneration in the area. Malaysian developers SP Setia and Sime
Darby have now bought the site – meaning they will have a legal obligation
to maintain the building whilst a redevelopment plan is drawn up. What does
the future hold for Battersea Power Station? Who knows?

13. AN ICONIC & MAJESTIC STRUCTURE
• Whatever the fate of Battersea Power
Station might be, it’s plain to see that it is
an absolutely iconic building. It is
historically significant and an ever present
in the popular culture of London.
• From it’s depiction on Pink Floyd’s album
cover for ‘Animals’ to its inclusion in Monty
Python’s film ‘The Meaning of Life’, it’s
clear to see that this icon permeates the
hearts and minds of all who gaze upon it.
• So whatever the future holds, let’s hope
it’s as rich and vibrant as the affection
people have had for Battersea Power
Station since it’s opening in 1933.