Battersea Gas Tower demolition to make way for new homes

Work is underway to demolish Battersea Park’s massive blue gasholder which has been in existence for some 80 years. The move is set to create new homes, shops and business space for sale and to rent in Battersea. Wandsworth council approved the demolition last year as part of the regeneration of the Nine Elms area, which includes the overhaul of Battersea Power Station led by Wilkinson Eyre Architects.

The two-acre site is on the junction of Prince of Wales Drive and Queenstown Road. The demolition will take some 16 months to complete with National Grid to sell the land to a housing specialist for development.

The history

The gasholders were originally built to store gas made from coal at a local gasworks and were located mostly on what is now New Covent Garden Market as well as a former Royal Mail depot. After North Sea gas was discovered, the gasworks became obsolete and closed in 1970. Since then, the gasworks have been used to store natural gas, but were decommissioned 2012. One fascinating fact is that the gasholders went down in music history after they featured alongside Battersea Power Station on rock band The Who’s Quadrophenia album artwork in 1973.

The future

The council has said that neighbouring sites can now be developed as the land would no longer be subject to health and safety regulations which can prohibit development. Hundreds of new jobs and homes are expected to be created in the years ahead on this site – with a new shopping area, tube station and riverside park all in the pipeline. Although the gasholders are not listed buildings, the council has attached a condition to the planning consent to ensure National Grid documents the site’s historical and architectural features before it’s demolished.

The wider area

Several major development projects are already underway just a short distance from the gasholders, such as Riverlight, Battersea Power Station and Embassy Gardens, adjacent to the US embassy. The area’s set to boast more than 18,000 new homes, with business space to support some 25,000 new jobs.  As well as this, the Northern Line Extension will be the major transport hub that will make Nine Elms possible. The project’s won financial support from the government and is working its way through the planning system.  There’s also set to be a network of up to 23 interconnected routes including separate bike lanes on main roads like Nine Elms Lane and Battersea Park Road.

So as you can see, the area’s set to receive a massive boost due to these new luxury developments. ThisCentral London district is being set around network of public squares, riverside walks and gardens, designed by the world leading architects and urban planners.  A brand new public fresh produce market and centre for London’s foodies being created at New Covent Garden Market – so what are you waiting for? If you’re looking for flats and shops to rent and buy in Battersea why not check out this wonderful new part of town!

If you have any questions, you can contact our Battersea office team today.