More than 200 council homes for social rent are to be built at the Battersea Power Station development.
Wandsworth council and the Malaysian owned developers said they were “working in partnership to build 200 new high quality council homes as part of the development’s 42-acre masterplan.”
It comes after the Standard revealed last year that the Labour run council was unhappy with the “unacceptably low” level of affordable housing in the early phases of the £9 billion scheme.
The Malaysian owners of the riverside scheme faced criticism when it was revealed in 2017 that the number of affordable homes would be reduced by around 40% to 386, or just 9% of the total.
The company said at the time that rising costs and a slump in the luxury housing market in London meant a higher level of affordable housing was no longer viable.
But it has come under growing pressure from Wandsworth town hall to boost the level of affordable provision since Labour took control of the south London local authority in 2022.
The move announced today will increase the level of affordable housing in the scheme to either 15% or 23% depending on how much housing is eventually completed.
The new council homes, part of the authority’s Homes for Wandsworth programme, would be built on a currently undeveloped plot within Phase 5 of the Battersea Power Station masterplan, to the east of the grade II* listed former generator.
The proposal - still subject to planning and grant funding approvals - would provide homes for local families at social rent levels.
There are currently around 9,500 households on the housing waiting list in Wandsworth.
The developer said proposed designs for the new council homes “include a nod to the Power Station’s 1930s art deco heritage.” The site will also include public spaces, tree-lined streets, and workspaces.
The project will be financed within the council’s existing Housing Revenue Account and supported by GLA grant funding. A detailed planning application is expected to be submitted in early 2026.
Sam Cotton, Interim CEO of Battersea Power Station Development Company, said: “Restoring Battersea Power Station was about bringing a London landmark back to life and creating a thriving new neighbourhood in its immediate surroundings, providing new jobs, growth and economic opportunities for Wandsworth and beyond.
“But the story is only half told. The next chapters will be significant: shaping a place that brings people and ideas together and builds on Battersea Power Station’s creative spirit with new cultural spaces as well as homes and workplaces.
“We are proud of the homes already built at Battersea Power Station which include 386 affordable homes at New Mansion Square, all of which are now fully occupied.
“We are delighted to be working in close partnership with Wandsworth Council on the future, approaching this next phase with the same ambition and dedication that has guided every step of the journey so far, ensuring Battersea Power Station continues to be about people and the diverse communities that we create.”
Simon Hogg, leader of Wandsworth Council, said: “We’re determined to deliver the genuinely affordable homes that Wandsworth people need, and this strong partnership gives us a real opportunity to do that right at the heart of one of London’s most recognisable landmarks.
“These will be high-quality council homes, let at social rent, for local people who need them most. It’s a key step in our mission to make Wandsworth a fairer borough, where everyone can share the benefits of growth.
“I’m delighted this development is moving forward as the first major step under our new Growth Plan. Positioned within Wandsworth's Growth Corridor, this new development ensures that Council homes and new opportunities are part of our strategic drive for inclusive growth in the borough."
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