ES Views Letter of the Day: Battersea Power Station’s new deal

Anything other than approval of the new Battersea Power Station proposals would have put at risk the new Tube, new jobs and new homes our residents want. Wandsworth council has worked hard to deliver the second highest number of affordable homes in London. I chaired the committee and we did not take this decision lightly.

Battersea Power Station has been empty for 33 years because it is an exceptionally challenging site. The cost of restoring it has nearly doubled since we granted original permission five years ago.

The only way we held on to the new Tube, new jobs and any affordable homes was by persuading the developer to take a much lower profit. We only get affordable homes if a development remains viable. The completion of Battersea Power Station is essential to the successful regeneration of Nine Elms.

Cllr Richard Field, deputy chairman, planning applications committee, Wandsworth council

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