BatterseaWatch

Battersea power station continues to be in the news a lot. A double spread in this week's AJ and more, prompted by rumours of new investors, arguments over the s106 agreement, and much more.

Vicky Wang, (presumably daughter of the owner Victor?) gave an interview to Proerty Week this week in which she revealed that she wants to change the epmhasis from the retail-led to make the leisure aspects work harder, citing the Eden project as a precedent. they are calling it the 'Turbine Gardens' and as part of the plan, the station’s 6 acre (2.4 ha) roof will be converted into a landscaped garden and entertainment park. And apparently Yo! Sushi founder Simon Woodroffe is negotiating a deal to open a 40,000 sq ft Yo! Zone spa, including hot pools, steam rooms and massage tables.

Meanwhile, according to a local residents organisation, Parkview want to change their s106 agreement, which states that the power station must be redeveloped in its entirety before anything else can be developed. They claim ‘It is now questioning what is meant by “in its entirety”, and whether it can simply put a roof on it, and leave it as a shell that is watertight.’

But Parkview says it would get the building ready for tenant fit-out, which would include the installation of new floors as well as a provision of a roof over the turbine hall.

The residents blame the influence of prospective new financiers, Treasury Holdings. ‘Since it has engaged in talks with Treasury, it is happy just to get the site into shape, and start residential projects, which would be more attractive to Treasury. Treasury is not interested in hotels and shopping malls, it just wants to turn the whole site into luxury apartments like the rest of Wandsworth riverside, and Parkview realises that.’

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