Battersea Power Station Development’s first iconic chimney close to completion

LONDON (Oct 6): The rebuilt South West chimney – the first of Battersea Power Station’s four iconic chimneys – has reached 25m above the highest point of the wash tower brickwork and was signed off by London Borough of Wandsworth (LBW) yesterday.

Battersea Power Station Development Co Ltd (BPSDC) chief executive officer Rob Tincknell said in a statement that the confirmation has great meaning to the development as this means the work to dismantle and rebuild the other three chimneys will commence soon.

“Reaching the halfway point on the first chimney to be rebuilt is another significant milestone for everyone in the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station,” he said.

The rebuilding programme is designed to ensure that the chimneys, which soar above the Grade II-listed Power Station, are safeguarded for future generations to enjoy.

London Borough of Wandsworth has appointed The Morton Partnership Ltd as the preferred independent engineering practice to undertake the inspections of the chimney. The inspections have also been carried out by Historic England and London Borough of Wandsworth’s Building Control and Planning Officers.

Wandsworth Council leader, Councillor Ravi Govindia, said the chimneys are a defining feature of the London skyline, and the local planning authority has a profound duty to make sure the rebuilding process is a success.

The dismantling work of South West chimney started in August 2014 and was completed by the end of the same year. The new chimney now has a height of 35m, with 10m lying inside the brick washtower and 25m standing above the brickwork. It is expected to be restored to its full height of 50m before the end of 2015.

According to the statement, all four chimneys will be fully reconstructed in 2016 with paint works commencing later.