Battersea Power Station is Europe’s largest brick building.
It is a disused coal-fired power station located on the south bank of the River Thames, in Battersea, South London.
The site comprises two individual power stations, built in two stages in the form of a single building. Battersea A Power Station was built first in the 1930s, with Battersea B Power Station to its east in the 1950s.
The station ceased generating electricity in 1983, but over the past 50 years it has become one of the best-known landmarks in London.
Following the station’s closure, the Central Electricity Generating Board had planned to demolish the station and sell the land for housing, but because of the building’s Grade II listed status, they had to pay for preserving the building.
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In 1993, the site and its outstanding debt of £70 million were bought from the Bank of America by Hong Kong based development company, Parkview International, for £10 million.
On 30 November 2006, it was announced that Real Estate Opportunities, led by Irish businessmen Richard Barrett and Johnny Ronan of Treasury Holdings, had purchased Battersea Power Station and the surrounding land for €532 million (£400 million).
This building would contain an eco-dome and aim to reduce energy consumption in the buildings by 67 per cent compared to conventional office buildings. 3,200 new homes would also be built on the site to house 7,000 people.
In June 2008 a consultation process was launched, which revealed that 66 per cent of the general public were in favour of the plans.