Battersea Power Station Chimneys Could Be Demolished

Dean Nicholas
By Dean Nicholas Last edited 135 months ago

Last Updated 01 July 2013

Battersea Power Station Chimneys Could Be Demolished

Photo by Nigel Bewley

The company masterminding the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station has applied to Wandsworth council for permission to demolish three of the building's chimneys.

As part of the original redevelopment plan, the four chimneys were to be rebuilt one at a time. However, the Battersea Power Station Development Company, which represents the site's Malaysian owner, now wants to remove three at the same time, in order to reduce the predicted timescale for Battersea's rebuild by 18 months. They would only do this once the first of the new chimneys had been constructed, with the other three being rebuilt in time for the project's completion.

The future of Battersea's chimneys is one of the most contentious aspects of the entire project. The Battersea Power Station Community Group, which is opposed to the development, has long argued that the original chimneys could in fact be repaired, and that once removed they might never return, for example if the company were to go bust (not an unprecedented event where Battersea is concerned).

A decision is expected in August. Read more about the plans on Wandsworth council's website.

Pictures from a climb to the top of the chimneys