South London industrial buildings in urgent need of repair

19:01:20 6th January 2010

Battersea Power station, an iconic disused industrial building standing next to the River Thames is in need of repairs to avoid major structural damage, Reuters reports.

Developers, who are aiming to turn the former coal power station and surrounding industrial buildings into a multi-use residential and commercial complex, say it could be under threat if work is not done on the structure soon.

Jeremy Castle, chief planning director at Treasury Holdings UK, which is planning to develop the site said: "We need to move fast to redevelop the site because the building is deteriorating quickly."

Having purchased the power station for £400 million in 2006, its owners say its value has fallen significantly since.

The building, which is on English Heritage's list of historic buildings at risk, is largely formed of brickwork held together with metal straps.

Constructed in the 1930s, Battersea Power Station was featured on the cover of Pink Floyd's 1977 album Animals.

Having closed in 1983, it has lain dormant while successive redevelopment plans have failed to come to fruition.

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