Battersea Power Station is at the heart of one of central London’s largest regeneration projects, transforming an industrial brownfield site of more than 42 acres into a dynamic new city quarter.

With the current project having evolved beyond its 2011 consented scheme, Arup’s design team was brought in to design the masterplan’s next stage, known as the Future Phases. 

The initial consent for Battersea Power Station in 2011 has led to transformative change in this London neighbourhood, and to continue delivering its surrounding urban quarter will require a new vision based on the current circumstances. Arup provided a masterplanning framework that increases the quarter’s area by 70,000m2 while maximising the flexibility in potential use of space, making for a plan that is more resilient to London’s quick pace of change.

The refreshed Future Phases Masterplan aims to build on the principles of the original masterplan, continue to fully respect the Grade II listed Power Station and its setting, and deliver future living and working environments that match the quality and sustainability aspirations set by the original plan and the already delivered aspects of the neighbourhood. Buttressed by transport links and a burgeoning social scene, one of London’s newest quarter is set to become one of its busiest.

Render of the Battersea Power Station redevelopment
Discover more about Arup's work in continuing the redevelopment of the Battersea Power Station site

Masterplanning and urban design

The designs for Battersea have been, in some ways, victim to their own success – the surrounding area has changed so much since 2011 that a new vision became necessary to keep the project moving forward. The refreshed Future Phases masterplan had to take into account a number of changes to this iconic and yet once practically inaccessible area of London. New infrastructure such as the Northern Line extension and additional underground utilities and the extensive regeneration of the Nine Elms corridor informed a rethink of site capacity for a now-desirable location. 

One way we worked towards this new masterplan was digital decision making. Our team developed a series of digital masterplanning tools that optimized scheme design using generative design, assessment and optimisation algorithms. The tools explored the impact of below-ground constraints and maximum permitted height on possible built form, as well as quality of daylight and views, in order to meet the priorities of both the client and the end user.

Sketch of the new underground station within the site
The new underground station will be integrated into the overall context as early phases meet completion.

This innovative use of automation allowed us to explore a huge array of options at speed, widening the team’s ability to create innovative solutions despite the huge constraints of the site and planning process.

Working in close collaboration with BPSDC, London Borough of Wandsworth and Historic England, our team responded to these challenges, providing a dynamic framework that maximises the flexibility of parameter envelopes and potential use classes, whilst increasing the area by 70,000m2. This enables the ongoing redevelopment to be both responsive and resilient to an ever-changing market, whilst allowing for a greater degree of variation in design.

The refreshed Future Phases Masterplan aims to build on the principles of the original masterplan, continue to fully respect the setting of the Power Station, and deliver future living and working environments that match the quality, vibrancy, and sustainability aspirations set by the original plan and the already delivered neighbourhoods.

Simon Murphy

CEO, Battersea Power Station Development Company