Real Estate Opportunities has abandoned plans for an ‘eco dome and chimney’ at Battersea Power Station and is working on an alternative scheme which will be lower in height but more dense.
The company, which is 67% owned by Irish developer Treasury Holdings, proposed to develop a £4bn eco- development designed by Uruguyan architect Rafael Vinoly. The key feature was an area of five office blocks covered in a plastic dome with a 300 metre-high glass ‘chimney’ that is open to the elements.
However, Property Week has learnt that following an extensive public consultation and discussions with bodies including Wandsworth Borough Council, the mayor of London, English Heritage and the Commission of Architecture for the Built Environment it has decided to work on an alternative scheme.
Concerns were raised by various bodies, particularly English Heritage, that the scheme could impede strategic views including the view of the Houses of Parliament.
However, REO is now working with Vinoly and other key stakeholders on a new proposal which has received an initial positive response.
It is not thought the new proposals, which are part of the ongoing master planning of the site, will significantly reduce the amount of residential and commercial space included within the whole scheme which together total more than 7m sq ft.
REO hopes to start construction in 2012 and complete the scheme by 2020.
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