Images of a stunning new rooftop garden for the Battersea Power Station development have been revealed.
The question on Londoners' lips will be "Can I access it?". The simple answer: Yes. And no.
At over a quarter of a kilometre long, the undulating roof garden will perch on top of new Battersea development, Battersea Roof Gardens. This itself is part of a mammoth £9bn regeneration of the Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms area, which includes a new high street, The Electric Boulevard; and a Northern line extension with two new tube stations.
The tree-lined garden will command views of the Power Station, the Thames, and the city beyond. According to the Evening Standard, it will also feature a yoga lawn, barbecue spots, fitness areas, vegetable patch, plus areas for cinema screenings.
All well and good, but can ordinary Londoners access it? A Foster + Partners spokesperson told us:
The roof garden will have periodic public access. The exact details of the frequency and management of this is yet to be finalised, however it is very much intended to be a space for both residents and members of the public to enjoy.
Well that's as clear as mud. Actually, this on-and-off public access model has hints of those plans for the ill-fated Garden Bridge. Anyway, the good news is that, at times when the garden IS open to the public, entry will be free.
The building is expected to open sometime mid-2021, although a date for the garden opening hasn't yet been confirmed.
