Battersea Power Station plans approved

Plans to redevelop the Battersea Power Station site were approved by Wandsworth Council this week, meaning that the long-awaited development of the London site can now proceed to the construction phase.

Six planning applications and one variation were approved by the council's planning committee on Thursday 9 November. Developer Parkview International is already in discussion with a number of possible development partners and expect to award the first construction contracts in January 2007.

Welcoming the decision, Parkview International's president, Victor Hwang, seemed to express great relief that final consent had at last been granted.

Speaking of the long-drawn planning stages, he said: "We have appreciated the unwavering support of Wandsworth Council who have seen us through in excess of 50 submissions since 1996. It has taken us 13 years and an investment of £200 million to arrive where we are today. As a foreign investor, it has been somewhat of a revelation to realise that it is not uncommon in Europe for projects of this scale and complexity to take this long to navigate throught the planning process."

Plans for the Power Station project cover a total area of  4.5 million sq ft on the Thames riverside, and will see the former power station and its surrounding area converted into a multi-purpose development, incorporating two hotels, a 2,000 seater performance venue, office and residential accommodation and other facilities.