LASTWORD WRITTEN BY DEBORAH CHURCHILL
EDITORIAL@BARRELFIELD.CO.UK
SIR GILES GILBERT SCOTT
LONDON-ONLY SALESLAUNCH FOR POWERFULLY ICONIC PROPERTIES IN MAY
Battersea Power Station. For years after its closure, the iconic silhouette haunted the south London skyline as a monument to decay and, some might say, folly. In the early 1980s, with the threat of demolition hanging over this industrial monolith, campaign groups worked tirelessly to keep the wrecking balls at bay.
They succeeded. Michael Heseltine, then Secretary of State for the Environment, awarded the building a Grade II listing (upgraded to II* in 2007) and its future seemed assured. But over the next few decades a series of plans for redevelopment flared briefly into light, only to fail, leaving the future of the site in jeopardy.
Battersea Power Station was left to languish, unloved by many, unused and surrendered to the elements. The voices of dissent murmured that it would have been better if the whole thing had been knocked down, and the listing that ‘saved’ the building began to look like it might actually be an impediment.
But good things come to those who wait. Few could argue with the vibrancy of the redevelopment of the area by Battersea Power Station Development Company and now, finally, properties within the power station itself are about to be launched.
The 254 homes being built fall into two styles across three different parts of the building: The Switch House East, The Switch House West and - at the very top - Boiler House Square. The apartments nestled in the original fabric of the power station feature exposed brickwork and industrial fittings, while those higher up have a panoramic glazed style. They will all have access to 1.5-acre rooftop gardens, and those in the Boiler House Square will open out onto a newly created ‘London square’. Together with breath-taking views, this is the height - literally - of green urban chic.
Potential buyers have masses of choice, with more than 100 different layouts available. The properties range from studios all the way up to four-bedroom homes, including duplexes (accounting for around a third of all the properties) and apartments approximately 40% larger than the average new-build London development.
As you might expect, life in one of the capital’s most famous landmarks doesn’t come with a low price tag. Studios are available from £800,000 and four-bedroom homes start at £4 million. Price on application for the penthouse. If you want a piece of the action, it might be time to buy a Lottery ticket…
The name might not be instantly recognisable, but his work certainly is. In addition to designing the power stations at both Battersea (below) and Bankside (now Tate Modern), Gilbert Scott also created the red telephone box and Liverpool Cathedral.
The Gilbert Scott family has had a lasting impact on London. Sir George Gilbert Scott - Giles’s father - designed the Midland Grand Hotel at St Pancras and the Albert Memorial in Hyde Park.
The May 1 launch will be held in London only. Battersea Power Station: 020 7501 0678
www.batterseapowerstation.co.uk
MY LONDON LIFE
01 NAME Alex Lyle.
02 JOB TITLE South-west London sales director, Marsh & Parsons.
03 WHERE DO YOU LIVE? Pimlico.
04 HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN LONDON? Twenty years - give or take a few!
05 PREFERRED MODE OF TRANSPORT I’m based in Fulham and walk to work from Pimlico most days. I’ll use the car during the day, but since the ‘Boris bikes’ have arrived in SW6, I’ll certainly be using them to get around in future.
06 FAVOURITE LONDON VIEW I love the views across Chelsea Embankment on my way into work. Equally, the view from Ebury Bridge back towards Battersea Power Station is fantastic.
07 IDEAL WEEKEND IN LONDON I’d begin with a few drinks on Friday evening in Mao Tai, Fulham. The rest of the weekend would probably include plenty of live sport, dinner out, a theatre trip and drinks with friends.
08 FAVOURITE RESTAURANT There’s a fantastic local Italian in Fulham – L’Antico, on the corner of the King’s Road and Holmead Road. I also love the Harwood Arms, which is close to Fulham Broadway and the only London pub with a Michelin star.
09 I’VE ALWAYS MEANT TO… Go to the top of The Shard - I can’t wait to see that view!
10 THE BEST THING ABOUT MY PATCH Fulham has something for everyone - lots of green open spaces, great transport links, a good mix of bars and restaurants to suit all ages and budgets, and of course the beautiful Victorian and Edwardian properties. If you’re a football fan, then the Fulham and Chelsea Premier League clubs are also a pretty good draw.
Bikeworldtravel /
Shutterstock.com
The affectionately known ‘Boris bikes’ now cover just under 40 square miles of central and inner London. The scheme, which started in 2010, was extended in December 2013 by more than 2,000 new bikes and over 150 new docking stations across Clapham Junction, Hammersmith, Fulham and Putney.
www.tfl.co.uk
BARCLAYS CYCLE HIRE
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