Battersea Power Station has been declared safe at last with the iconic building being taken off Historic England’s Heritage At Risk Register after three decades.
It is one of 32 sites in London, including a public lavatory in Bloomsbury and a fragment of a Roman wall found in the basement of a city hairdressers, that have been removed from the register this year.
The Grade II* listed building in southwest London once supplied a fifth of London’s electricity but was derelict for years after it was decommissioned in 1983 and was added to the register in 1991.
It is now being re-opened – complete with a new Tube station – as home to 1,500 residents in more than 250 flats as well as bars, cafes and a theatre.
The restoration work included using 1.75 million handmade bricks from two brickmaking firms who supplied the material for the original construction.
Simon Murphy, Chief Executive Officer at Battersea Power Station Development Company, said: “Following several years of careful and complex restoration, we are delighted the Power Station has been removed from Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register. Working with a Grade II* listed building is not without its challenges, however as custodians of the Power Station our shareholders and all the team are extremely proud to have brought one of the capital’s greatest icons back to life and futureproofing it for generations to come.
“We have worked closely with Historic England, Wandsworth Council, heritage architects Purcell and WilkinsonEyre to ensure that the building was treated sensitively and with the respect it deserves throughout the restoration process. It is thanks to the vision of our shareholders and these key partnerships that we are celebrating this important milestone as we countdown to the Power Station’s doors opening to the public for the first time in history next year.”
Also removed from the register are the Victorian-era toilet in Lamb’s Conduit Street, which now operates as a bar, and the surviving trace of the roman wall in the basement of a building in Gracechurch Street which now benefits from a built-in dehumidifier to prevent it being damaged by excess humidity.
Another 18 sites have been added to the register including the Streatham Hill Theatre and a cricket pavilion in Leyton as they are regarded as being at risk.
Emily Gee, Regional Director at Historic England, said: “Our heritage is an anchor for us all in testing times. Despite the challenges we have all faced recently, this year’s Heritage at Risk Register demonstrates that looking after and investing in our historic places can contribute to the country’s economic recovery, bringing communities together and help tackle climate change.
“The 32 sites saved this year in London show what’s possible with strong partnerships, dedicated individuals and funding support. But there is always more to do to give our cherished historic places the attention, investment and secure future they deserve.”
