Wandsworth councillors boycott opening of Battersea Power Station

By Charlotte Lillywhite, Local Democracy Reporter

Councillors won’t turn up to the opening of Battersea Power Station after raising concerns about the development’s low level of social housing.

Wandsworth council’s new Labour administration said it is not planning on attending the event next week and will focus on building 1,000 new council homes for locals.

The £9bn redevelopment project in Battersea includes the revamp of the iconic Grade-II listed power station, which is opening to the public for the first time on October 14.

The scheme also includes thousands of new homes, shops, bars, restaurants, cafés, offices, a pedestrianised high street and more than 19 acres of public space.

But Wandsworth Labour – who won control of the council from the Conservatives for the first time in 44 years in May – has long criticised the level of affordable housing in the scheme, which stands at nine per cent after being cut from 15 per cent.

A recent council report also revealed there are more than 3,500 families who are statutorily homeless in the borough.

Conservative councillors questioned attendance during a finance committee meeting on September 29.

After Mark Maidment, the council’s interim chief executive, revealed there were no plans for Labour councillors or officers to attend,  Conservative councillor Peter Graham said the decision was “extremely surprising”.

A council spokesperson added: “There are currently numerous live planning applications from Battersea Power Station that are still to be determined so it wouldn’t be right to accept this hospitality.

“In Wandsworth, the council is focused on building 1,000 new council homes for local people and their families.”

A Battersea Power Station Development Company spokesman said everyone is welcome to the opening of the power station which has laid derelict for 40 years after “multiple failed attempts” at restoration.

“We are creating a place for people – a new town centre for the borough of Wandsworth – with shops, restaurants, playgrounds and parks for all to enjoy, as well as a new Tube station, towards which Battersea Power Station has contributed over £300 million,” they said.

Pictured top: Battersea Power Station (Picture: Charlie Round-Turner)