Case study: Battersea Power Station

Article by The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (2022) | Conversions, Regeneration, Urban Planning

Curators: Ana-Mihaela Faciu and Alexandra Faciu

Westmount, Canada

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Why we recommend it: Battersea Power Station’s redevelopment prioritizes sustainability through innovative energy solutions and heritage preservation. The site’s Energy Centre uses both efficient CHP (Combined Heat and Power) systems and thermal storage to minimize emissions and optimize energy use. Green infrastructure, including rooftop gardens and a six-acre park, promotes biodiversity, hosting protected bird species. The project also fosters social sustainability by creating thousands of local jobs and investing in community training programs. Advanced design techniques preserved historic architecture while integrating modern systems for energy efficiency, making Battersea a landmark example of sustainable urban regeneration that blends history, ecology, and community impact.

Key takeaways:

- Battersea Power Station, a Grade II* listed iconic London landmark, has opened to the public for the first time since its decommissioning in 1983 after nearly four decades of dereliction and multiple failed redevelopment attempts. The building, originally completed in two stages (1933 and 1955) with its distinctive four-chimney profile designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, once supplied a fifth of London’s electricity. The redevelopment faced significant challenges, including adherence to heritage preservation requirements and accommodating modern building services within the historic structure which was tackled using advanced design and BIM coordination.

- In 2012, a Malaysian consortium purchased the derelict site and embarked on a comprehensive mixed-use redevelopment plan encompassing 42 acres, including residential, retail, office, and leisure components. The project follows a phased approach: Phase 1 completed in 2017 introduced Circus West Village, now home to over 2,000 residents; Phase 2 focuses on repurposing the power station itself into a vibrant commercial and leisure hub; Phase 3 is underway with new residential blocks, retail space, and a hotel designed by Gehry Partners and Foster + Partners.

- Phase 2 is central to the scheme’s success, featuring the conversion of the central Boiler House into retail, leisure, office space, and event venues. The turbine halls, once industrial noise centers, now host shops, restaurants, and unique event spaces, while the original control rooms have been preserved as public event and hospitality areas. Key engineering solutions include locating a vast plantroom within the building’s core to maximize lettable space and using existing chimneys’ structural elements for integrating ventilation systems, along with new access cores incorporating lifts and stairs.

- Heating and cooling for the complex are supplied by a basement energy centre employing efficient gas combined heat and power engines, boilers, thermal stores, and chillers designed to meet the diverse load of the mixed-use facility. Electrical power is fed via two separate 7MW supplies, eliminating the need for standby generators and conserving valuable space. Innovative ventilation strategies, such as using smoke-extract fans for fresh air supply rather than rooftop air handling units, demonstrate a focus on efficiency and cost control.

- Interiors reflect the building’s layered history: Turbine Hall A with an art deco style, Turbine Hall B more utilitarian, both thermally modelled to ensure comfort and energy efficiency. Fire safety and air quality are managed with integrated smoke extraction and carbon dioxide sensor-controlled ventilation.

- The development has significantly revitalized the local area, creating thousands of jobs and new housing units, while preserving the architectural heritage and cultural significance of the power station. It has become a landmark for work, leisure, and residence in London, complete with retail, entertainment, and extensive public spaces including parks and riverfront access. Visitors can experience views from the top of the chimney via a glass lift, underscoring the blend of heritage and modern urban living.

- Overall, the Battersea Power Station redevelopment exemplifies the complex balance of historic preservation, modern engineering, and urban regeneration, creating a vibrant mixed-use precinct that honors its industrial past while serving contemporary community and commercial needs. This £9 billion project has transformed a derelict site into a thriving neighborhood central to London’s ongoing development.

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