Transforming London’s iconic Battersea Power Station into the UK’s most exciting new mixed-use retail, leisure and culture destination
This decade-long project has restored and transformed a legendary landmark and its surrounding area to create a new, vibrant, culturally led riverside neighbourhood for London - where people live, work, socialise and can celebrate the building’s heritage.
Key information
- Location:
- London, United Kingdom
- Date started:
- 2014
- Completion date:
- 2022
- Client type:
- real estate
- Main services:
- project management, employer’s agent, procurement, digital strategy
Building on history
Battersea Power Station supplied power to a fifth of the UK’s capital from 1933 until it was decommissioned in 1983. The historic power station is now at the heart of one of central London’s largest and most visionary developments.
The client’s ambition behind the project was to redevelop the Grade II* listed Power Station and the surrounding 42-acre site into a dynamic mix of residential, commercial and cultural uses, including offices, retail, leisure facilities, and food and beverage outlets. The aim was to restore the iconic landmark so it could be enjoyed by the public for generations to come and to construct a new town centre, creating thousands of new jobs for the local community.
Battersea Power Station opened its doors to the public alongside Electric Boulevard, a new pedestrianised high street, in October 2022. The exciting new riverside neighbourhood is now home to over 150 shops, bars, restaurants, offices, event spaces and leisure venues, including Lift 109, a unique glass elevator experience which transports visitors 109m to the top of the building’s north-west chimney, offering stunning views of the London skyline. Since opening in October 2022, Battersea Power Station has welcomed over eight million visitors.
Achievement through agility
For more than ten years, we have been a key part of managing this complex project, delivering multiple services to go beyond the client’s expectations. With more than 40 members of our staff engaged across multiple disciplines we have project managed the lifecycle delivery, including critical infrastructure and utilities, through the phased delivery of the development.
In each phase we provided bespoke advice to the client in relation to procurement, risk and issue management. The longevity of our role and our ability to provide the most effective resource solutions to drive the project was key to the redevelopment, as was evolving our service offering to the project’s changing needs.
Economic, social and sustainability benefits
Local community engagement has been a vital element of the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station, as well as education and workplace training initiatives for local residents.
The Battersea Academy for Skills and Employment (BASE) recruitment service was established by the project’s shareholders to help match job seekers from the local area with new job opportunities created by the development.
More than 2,500 new jobs were created with the opening of the Power Station and Electric Boulevard and approximately 20,000 long-term job opportunities will be created once the entire 42-acre development has been completed.
The project will also deliver 19 acres of new public space once completed, with a large amount already available, including a six-acre riverfront park, a children’s playground and the Grade II* listed Coaling Jetty out on the River Thames.
Jason Cowell, Senior Project Director at Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC), said:
The professionalism and expertise the Turner & Townsend team brought to the project was fantastic.
"They very much became a key part of the development team, and it was a pleasure to work together to transform the Grade II* listed Power Station into the exciting new, culture, retail and leisure destination it is today."
