Battersea turns up
the Power
The ongoing redevelopment of Battersea Power Station is one of the most exciting projects in London. We spoke to Head of Leasing at the scheme, Sam Cotton, about the iconic Power Station building, which is currently being transformed into a new mixed-use destination for the capital and will open its doors to the public next spring.
The redevelopment of Battersea Power has been steadily evolving over the past few years. Circus West Village, the first phase of the project is already home to more than 1,500 residents with 20-plus bars, restaurants, cafés, fitness and leisure venues. When restaurants got the green light to reopen on April 12th, celebrity chef – and local resident – Gordon Ramsay joined the line-up with his pizza restaurant concept, Street Pizza. The reopening of Circus West Village since restrictions eased has been a great success with many of the outdoor terraces in this riverside neighbourhood fully booked thanks to the support of local residents keen to enjoy the beautiful views across the Thames and of the historic Power Station.
2021 is undoubtedly one of the most exciting years in the transformation of the Grade II* listed Power Station, which once completed will house 253 residential apartments, over 100 retail shops, restaurants and cafes, as well as unique event spaces. Apple will also take 500,000 sq. ft of office space across six floors for its new London campus. This spring, the first residents will move into their new homes in the building, the Northern Line extension opens in the autumn and the retailer and office occupiers will begin fitting out their spaces ahead of the Power Station opening its doors to the public next spring.
For Sam Cotton – the man in charge of curating the retail and F&B mix for this new ‘15-minute’ live, work and play neighbourhood, which will act as a town centre for the immediate and wider local communities, a new business quarter for the capital and an experiential destination for Londoners and international visitors – it is the rejuvenation of the Power Station which is the most exciting aspect: “It’s a huge milestone for us – and London. It’s been sitting empty for 30-plus years, so it will be an extremely exciting moment when the doors of this historic landmark open to the public next spring.”
“It’s about getting the balance right. For example, the past year has highlighted the importance of grocery provision for a scheme that serves both locals and visitors.”
During the past year, Cotton and the team have been shaping the new offer and getting a deeper understanding of demand.
“Our first phase is about four years old now. Located on the banks of the River Thames, it offers a great mix of restaurants, bars, retail, leisure and fitness venues including: Boom Cycle, Black Sheep Coffee, Gordon Ramsay’s Street Pizza, Megan’s, Tapas Brindisa, Archlight Cinema and The Turbine Theatre. With so many more people in the neighbourhood last year, the retailers performed very well between lockdowns and it also gave us the opportunity to develop the conversation with local residents about what they wanted from a broader perspective.
“It’s about getting the balance right. For example, the past year has highlighted the importance of grocery provision for a scheme that serves both locals and visitors.”
The latter group is also set to grow thanks to the opening of a new attraction which will enable you to take a lift up one of the Power Station’s iconic 109ft chimneys to enjoy 360-degree views of London’s skyline and great views back down onto the historic landmark. Before taking the Chimney Lift, visitors will also be able to experience a state-of-the-art immersive exhibition in Turbine Hall A, which celebrates the Grade II* listed building’s history and cultural influence.
Despite the challenges of the past year, Cotton remains positive about the process.
“During the past year, the scheme has really evolved and become increasingly embedded in the local environment. If there has been a plus, it’s been that between the lockdowns, local residents beyond the development have really had the opportunity to explore what we have to offer and understand what’s coming next. We’ve really taken a very deep dive into who the customer is, who the resident is, and made sure that we are properly catering for them in what is coming down the line with the Power Station and future phases”.
The Chimney Lift Experience and the Northern Line extension will also bring new volumes of footfall. Prior to the pandemic, the thriving riverside neighbourhood already welcomed more than three million people on average per year thanks to its annual events programme. Previous highlights included the Light Festival at Battersea Power Station and Summer Showtime on The Coaling Jetty - an open-air cinema and theatre space. The autumn completion of the Northern Line extension will create a Zone 1 underground station and put the development in easy reach of millions of Londoners.
Cotton observes: “The new tube station is a game changer for access. With journey times to the West End and the City taking approximately 15 minutes, it will draw Londoners, international visitors and workers from across the capital to Battersea Power Station, boosting the local economy and creating over 17,000 new jobs”.
