Battersea Power Station could be left with just one chimney if councillors agree to new proposals.

The Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC) has applied for permission to change the sequence of which it's chimneys are rebuilt.

Wandsworth Council's planning committee are expected to approve plans, known as a deed of variation, at a planning meeting this evening.

The new application would allow BPSDC to begin reconstruction work on only one chimney.

When it has been rebuilt the remaining free will be removed and rebuilt at the same time, leaving the London skyline with a solitary chimney.

Originally SP Setia and BPSDC agreed to remove and reconstruct the chimneys sequentially, or one at a time but have said this will delay the redevelopment.

A planning document submitted to the council said: "The applicant has stated that by requiring each chimney to be worked on in turn, the current legal agreement, results in a lengthily period of time required to complete the chimney works, which consequently lengthens the overall programme for refurbishing the Power Station and delays its delivery."

The developers have said the new sequence would speed up the development of the site by eight months. 

 

But the new proposal has raised fears with campaigners and amenity groups who fear the move would result in the chimneys being removed completely.

Last month power station campaigner Keith Garner said: "It is entirely plausible the owners will take the chimneys down and then contrive some reason why they can’t be rebuilt."

Amenity group The Clapham Society said an independent surveyor should be hired to find out if the chimneys need rebuilding.

A statement on a planning document said: "If this concludes that the chimneys must be rebuilt then this must be done one by one, otherwise if all are demolished at once, there will be further pressure to clear the site and 30 years effort to preserve this iconic building will have been wasted."

A planning committee will make the final decision at a meeting in Wandsworth Town Hall this evening.


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