London Freeze site development plans

Battersea power station, home to London’s Freeze Festival, may begin it’s long awaited re-birth as developers unveil plans, and gain crucial local authority approval, for the site. London’s Big Air event has of course not always been on the power station site, having moved from Covent Garden to Battersea Park, then across the road and rail links to it’s current location.

Since 1983 various multi million pound developments have come to Battersea power station, and various multi million pound developments have gone. The present owners of the Sir Giles Gilbert Scott 1930s London (and Pink Floyd) icon, Real Estate Opportunities (REO), have just had their latest plans approved by Wandsworh Council. All that’s needed now is the Mayor of London’s agreement. Unfortunately Boris Johnson has already rejected a previous REO plan for the site’s development. Oh, and there’s also the small matter of finance for the £5.5 billion scheme. However, Rob Tincknell (MD of REO’s parent ’Treasury Holdings’) did say, in Architecture News: “We don’t embark on projects that we can’t deliver”.

The latest plans from architect Rafael Viñoly’s

Plans at present are for a mix of retail, residential and office space, where the London Freeze Festival would fit into that is at the moment uncertain. Tincknell did however state that “It will be a place to live, work, and play”. REOs plan does include a six acre public park and an urban square, but will it still be able to accommodate the Big Air snowboard and freeski event? Work is slated to start in early 2012, which could mean that the 2011 Freeze will be unaffected.

images: archinnovations and Architecture News