Battersea Power Station council homes approved

Plans to build more than 200 council homes at Battersea Power Station have been approved, as part of its £9billion regeneration. Wandsworth Council has formally approved proposals to build 203 homes on an undeveloped plot of land on the iconic 42-acre redevelopment site by 2029, in partnership with Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC).

The new council homes will be offered to people on Wandsworth’s waiting list, and have been described as marking a major step towards tackling the borough’s housing crisis. The council has a long-term lease on the land, lasting for hundreds of years, which is owned by freeholder BPSDC.

It comes after the council’s previous Labour administration announced last year it was partnering with BPSDC to build affordable homes on the site, which marked a major turning point for the regeneration.

Labour had previously fiercely criticised the redevelopment masterplan, which was approved under Tory control, for only agreeing to build 386 affordable homes, or nine per cent, of roughly 4,000 homes.

The application had not yet been approved when Labour lost control of the council in the local elections in May, with the Conservatives now ruling as a minority administration.

In a new report, planning officers confirmed the scheme has won planning permission and will go ahead.

The homes will be provided in a building up to 18 storeys tall, which will have communal gardens and a roof garden.

Construction is due to start in 2027, with the homes expected to be completed and occupied by 2029.

Battersea Power Station

Charlie Round-Turner

The council homes come in addition to the level of affordable housing already agreed by the developer, which takes this to 15 per cent.

Conservative council leader Robert Morritt said: “This decision kick-starts an exciting time for Wandsworth as we move at pace to deliver more high-quality homes for rent or sale across our borough. Working in partnership with Battersea Power Station, this well-designed development of 200 properties shows our commitment to good growth and building homes for local people.”

Tom Copley, deputy mayor for housing and residential development, said: “The Mayor and I are proud to be working with Battersea Power Station and Wandsworth Council, providing investment to deliver social housing at one of London’s most iconic regeneration sites, as we work to build a fairer, more prosperous London for everyone.”

James Saunders, CEO of BPSDC, added: “These new homes represent another important milestone in the delivery of our vision for Battersea Power Station, and we’re delighted to be bringing them forward in partnership with Wandsworth Council and the GLA.

“Alongside today’s announcement, we continue to make strong progress across the wider development, with construction on the final section of Electric Boulevard, our pedestrianised high street, beginning soon.”

The number of homeless households on Wandsworth’s waiting list in March last year was 11,183, including 3,771 homeless households.

The council homes will come forward in phase five of the regeneration, which is split into eight phases overall. More than 2,200 homes have been delivered so far in the redevelopment, including 386 affordable homes at New Mansion Square in partnership with Peabody.

New cultural attractions and experiences, along with extra homes and workplaces, are planned for future phases of the regeneration.