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Lots Road power station (nicknamed the Chelsea Monster) was commissioned in 1905 to provide electricity for the Metropolitan District Railway, now known as the District line. It was originally coal fired and had four chimneys, but when it was converted to oil operation in the 1960's two of them were demolished. In the 1990's it was realised that re-equipping the power station would be necessary if generation of electricity was to continue, but instead it was decided to carry on running the station until the equipment's useful life expired. It shut down on the 21st of October, 2002, and since then all electricity for the London Underground has been supplied from the National Grid. All equipment has been removed and some demolition work has taken place in preparation for conversion into shops, restaurants and apartments.
On 30 January 2006 the Secretary of State granted planning permission for the development. In 2007 the developer hoped to complete the scheme by 2013, it has since been delayed by the economic downturn. On 26 September 2013, developer Hutchison Whampoa Properties broke ground on the eight-acre site, rebranding it as "Chelsea Waterfront", with Mayor of London Boris Johnson speaking at the ceremony. The £1bn scheme will be "the biggest riverside development on the north bank [of the Thames] for over 100 years", and will create 706 homes. New planning and design details were conceived between 2010 and 2012. The construction for Phase One (100 apartments) is expected to be completed in 2015/16, and phase two, which includes the power station itself, in 2017/8.
I did a rooftop nearby recently (see last pic) and kicked myself for not having bothered with this landmark power station yet, commonly referred to as Battersea's little sister (by me). This was a sole venture after a night in Earls Court with many beers having been consumed. I didn't fancy my chances of success much but it was a good time of day to give it a go and hey presto I was inside. Looking at previous reports not a lot has changed inside here in over 6 years but it still has a certain charm to it due to it's size and art deco design. Unfortunately there was no way I could get to the roof on my own so I may have to pop back with company. Also my pics are a bit drunk so I might return sober as well
On 30 January 2006 the Secretary of State granted planning permission for the development. In 2007 the developer hoped to complete the scheme by 2013, it has since been delayed by the economic downturn. On 26 September 2013, developer Hutchison Whampoa Properties broke ground on the eight-acre site, rebranding it as "Chelsea Waterfront", with Mayor of London Boris Johnson speaking at the ceremony. The £1bn scheme will be "the biggest riverside development on the north bank [of the Thames] for over 100 years", and will create 706 homes. New planning and design details were conceived between 2010 and 2012. The construction for Phase One (100 apartments) is expected to be completed in 2015/16, and phase two, which includes the power station itself, in 2017/8.
I did a rooftop nearby recently (see last pic) and kicked myself for not having bothered with this landmark power station yet, commonly referred to as Battersea's little sister (by me). This was a sole venture after a night in Earls Court with many beers having been consumed. I didn't fancy my chances of success much but it was a good time of day to give it a go and hey presto I was inside. Looking at previous reports not a lot has changed inside here in over 6 years but it still has a certain charm to it due to it's size and art deco design. Unfortunately there was no way I could get to the roof on my own so I may have to pop back with company. Also my pics are a bit drunk so I might return sober as well
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Thanks for looking
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Thanks for looking
