Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC) and Sisk have broken ground today on Prospect Place South, the next phase of development for the 42-acre riverside neighbourhood.

A groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of construction. Attendees included Marsha de Cordova, Labour MP for Battersea; Councillor Robert Morritt, Leader of Wandsworth Council; Karen Gleaves, Employer Engagement Manager – Construction at Wandsworth Work Match; Tan Sri Shahril Ridza Ridzuan, Chairman of Battersea Project Holding Company; James Saunders, CEO at BPSDC; and Ger Hayes, Managing Director at Sisk. Representatives from S P Setia, Sime Darby Property, Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) and the Employee Provident Fund (EPF), the Malaysian consortium that purchased the Battersea Power Station site in 2012, were also in attendance.

Designed by Gehry Partners, Prospect Place South will comprise two buildings, Rosewood House and Hayworth House, which complete the riverside neighbourhood’s pedestrianised high street, Electric Boulevard. The buildings will deliver approximately 300 new homes, 65,000 sq ft of new commercial space for shops, cafes and restaurants, a 15,000 sq ft Community Hub, and an expanded bike hub providing 600 spaces free of charge.

As main contractor, Sisk will lead the construction of the development, working alongside BPSDC and the wider project team to deliver the Gehry designed buildings, which form an extension to the highly recognisable existing buildings at Prospect Place, and remain the only residential buildings in the UK designed by Frank Gehry, the world-famous architect and designer of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. The ongoing focus on sustainability means Prospect Place South has a more modern aesthetic to reduce the carbon footprint, while green roofs will also be present on both buildings, contributing to a minimum 10% biodiversity net gain.

The construction of Prospect Place South is expected to create 400 jobs, with an aim for 20% of the workforce to be from the local area; a target which has been exceeded across the 7,500 jobs which have already been created at Battersea Power Station. Construction is expected to be completed in 2030.

Paul Brown, CEO at Sisk said: “We are proud to be working alongside the Battersea Power Station team to bring forward Prospect Place South, which will deliver more than 300 new homes and two landmark buildings designed by Gehry Partners. This project reflects the strength and commitment of our supply chain partners and our capability to deliver large residential projects in London. We look forward to creating a lasting legacy in the local community in Wandsworth and south west London.”

James Saunders, CEO at BPSDC, said: “Breaking ground at Prospect Place South marks an exciting next chapter in the regeneration of Battersea Power Station and, importantly, sees construction getting underway on site once again. This is another significant step towards realising our long-term vision for the neighbourhood and will create further jobs and community spaces for local residents.

We are delighted to be working with Sisk, whose expertise and commitment will be instrumental in bringing this next phase to life. Together, we will build on the incredible transformation already achieved at Battersea Power Station and deliver the next Gehry Partners-designed buildings on Electric Boulevard.”

Marsha de Cordova, Labour MP for Battersea, said: “Today’s groundbreaking at Prospect Place South is an exciting moment for Battersea Power Station. I welcome the creation of hundreds of new jobs for local people, helping to drive growth, create opportunities and strengthen our local economy. This is another important step in making Battersea the best place to live, work and visit.”

Cllr Robert Morritt, Leader of Wandsworth Council, said: “It’s fantastic to see work begin here on Prospect Place South as we reach another important milestone in the transformation of Battersea Power Station. Wandsworth needs more homes of all types, giving people more choice about where they live, and we’re supporting the growth of vibrant neighbourhoods and town centres by increasing the range of homes available across the borough to buy or rent.”

With approximately half of the regeneration project now completed at Battersea Power Station, strategic urban design planner, Studio Egret West, has been appointed to evolve Rafael Viñoly’s original masterplan, first conceived over 15 years ago, to respond to changes in expectations around lifestyle, leisure and workspace.

A planning application will be submitted this month for the revised masterplan outlining the vision for the remaining 16 acres of the 42-acre Battersea Power Station site. The future phases have the potential to deliver up to 3.2 million sq ft of residential, commercial, cultural and leisure space and will complete the riverside neighbourhood, which is already home to over 2,200 homes, c. 800,000 sq ft of offices and more than 170 shops, bars, restaurants and leisure venues.

Pictured above: Karen Gleaves, Employer Engagement Manager – Construction at Wandsworth, Work Match; Cllr Robert Morritt, Leader of Wandsworth Council; James Saunders, CEO at Battersea Power, Station Development Company; Marsha de Cordova, Labour MP for Battersea, Tan Sri Shahril Ridza Ridzuan, Chairman of Battersea Project Holding Company; and Ger Hayes, Managing Director at Sisk.