BATTERSEA POWER STATION: A REVAMP

Battersea Power Station is one of the worlds most famous buildings and is at the heart of Central Londons most visionary and eagerly anticipated new development. Battersea Power Station is ready for transformation, but what is to be built? And what will it be like to live there, or to visit?Construction work on the 8 billion revamp of Battersea Power Station will begin by mid 2013 according to the new owners. The Malaysian consortium which bought the 39-acre site in south-west London in July for 400m plans to build 3,500 homes, offices, shops and a park.The 1933 grade II listed building's chimneys will be knocked down and replaced by replicas, the company said. The first phase of the redevelopment, designed by Raphael Vinoly, is expected to be completed by 2016.

Many Londoners are delighted that the site is being revived. The power station, which was decommissioned in 1983, was made famous on the cover of rock group Pink Floyd's best selling album'Animals'. It has since been vacant. It also features in English Heritage's Heritage At Risk register. The master plan for the site was done for the previous owners Real Estate Opportunities and the design has not been changed as it has already received planning permission for homes, office space, and for a new Tube station on the Northern Line.In 2011 Wandsworth Council gave planning permission for the then 5 billion project.The first phase will see the construction of residential buildings with 800 flats, built on top a commercial complex which will include shops, restaurants, gym, pool, spa, theatre and office space. A six-acre riverside park will also be created, which will be open to the public. The 8 billion redevelopment project will take at least 10 years to complete and generate 26,000 jobs. Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin, chief executive of SP Setia, said: "Battersea Power Station is a wonderful building and both it and the centrally-located Nine Elms area surrounding it are in need of regeneration. "With the sale now complete, we can move forward with our vision to build a vibrant, accessible and functional town centre for the Vauxhall, Nine Elms, Battersea area with the power station at its heart, creating up to 26,000 new jobs in the process."Ravi Govindia, Wandsworth Council's leader, said: "The district-wide regeneration programme will be one of the greatest sources of new jobs and homes in the country over the next few years."Here is a video:http://ispilledthebeans.blogspot.com.es/2013/03/battersea-power-station-revamp.html