Battersea Power Station Development Company to join 'Cultural Cities'

Image: Sarah Banham, courtesy of BPSDC

Future Cities Forum is delighted that Sarah Banham, Head of Community & Sustainability at Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC), will be speaking at Future Cities Forum's 'Cultural Cities' this week at the Tower of London.

Having worked on the project for over 18 years, and a Battersea resident herself, Sarah Banham is responsible for the overall delivery of the ESG vision for the project, in particular stakeholder and community engagement, local employment and skills, business procurement, and environmental management and biodiversity.

The Communities and Sustainability Team at BPSDC plays a long term and pivotal role in the placemaking vision for the new riverside neighbourhood being created at Battersea Power Station. Working in partnership with contractors and local stakeholders, Sarah and her team ensure that the benefits of the regeneration project have meaningful and positive impacts within the wider community.

Sarah also works closely with the development team for Battersea Power Station, looking ahead to the delivery of the remaining 16-acres of the masterplan. As well as inputting into building design, public realm and experience,

In February, Battersea Power Station announced the appointment of master planner and strategic urban design practice, Studio Egret West, to evolve the original Rafael Viñoly masterplan for the remaining 16-acres of the 42-acre riverside neighbourhood.

The ambitions for the new plans will reflect that, with the potential to deliver up to 3.2 million sq ft of residential, commercial, cultural and leisure space, the future phases will continue the evolution of one of the most exciting large-scale brownfield regeneration opportunities remaining in Central London.

Studio Egret West’s appointment will ensure the project fully reflects the changes in societal behaviour and technology for the future. The plans will aim to advance the neighbourhood’s rich mixed-use offering, while contributing to the Mayor of London’s Growth Plan.

The appointment of a master planner and urban designer marks another significant step in the progression of one of London’s most high-profile regeneration projects. Having laid derelict for nearly three decades, Battersea Power Station was purchased by its current Malaysian shareholders in 2012 and has since been successfully transformed with over 2,200 homes, c. 800,000 sq ft of office space, a new Zone 1 London Underground station and over 150 retail, dining and leisure experiences. High-profile events such as London Fashion Week, Olympic fan zones, projections led by Apple on the façade of the Power Station and celebrASIA, the unique Southeast Asian festival by Battersea Power Station, reflect how the neighbourhood has become a central pillar in London’s cultural scene. At the heart of the neighbourhood is the Grade II* listed Power Station, which opened to the public in 2022 following an eight-year restoration and has since welcomed over 40 million visitors from the local area, the UK and internationally.

The final phases of Battersea Power Station will connect to the new Nine Elms Park, a 14-acre green space running from Vauxhall, through Nine Elms and concluding at the six-acre riverfront Power Station Park.

As a result of the long-term commitment of its Malaysian shareholders, exciting steps have already been made in the progression of Battersea Power Station’s future phases, with construction of two new Gehry-designed buildings that will complete Electric Boulevard, the neighbourhood’s pedestrianised high street, set to commence in the coming months. Battersea Power Station and Wandsworth Council have also recently announced a partnership 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.

Last November it was announced that Wandsworth Council and Battersea Power Station are working in partnership to build 200 new high quality council homes as part of the development’s 42-acre masterplan.

This marks the next chapter of the Battersea Power Station development, expanding the established mix of homes, workplaces and cultural experiences.

The new council homes, part of the council’s Homes for Wandsworth programme, would be built on a currently undeveloped plot within Phase 5 of the Battersea Power Station masterplan, to the east of the Grade II* listed building.

Subject to planning and legal funding approvals, the development would provide well-designed homes for local families at social rent levels, a significant step towards tackling the housing crisis and creating mixed, balanced communities across the borough.

More widely, Battersea Power Station is entering a new chapter with a renewed focus on shaping how the riverside neighbourhood evolves over the next decade.  Building on Battersea Power Station’s emergence as a place where creativity, community and innovation come together, the future phases plan to introduce additional cultural attractions and experiences, alongside new homes and workplaces, which are key growth priorities.

Proposed designs for the new council homes include a nod to the Power Station’s 1930s art deco heritage and will transform the current brownfield site into a highly desirable, connected part of the wider Battersea Power Station neighbourhood. Near the Battersea Power Station Underground, the site will also feature new family friendly, sustainable public spaces, tree-lined streets, and opportunities for local businesses, leisure and hospitality venues to flourish, helping to drive inclusive economic growth and create a lively, community near the riverfront.

In partnership with Battersea Power Station, the council is working with the Greater London Authority (GLA) to bring forward a scheme that delivers on shared ambitions for fair growth and faster delivery of social housing at one of London’s most iconic regeneration sites. The project will be financed within the council’s existing Housing Revenue Account and supported by GLA grant funding.