Prospect Park, the new children’s playground and park area designed by LDA Design at Battersea Power Station, is open. It’s a milestone for the new riverside neighbourhood which will see the Grade II* listed Power Station and Electric Boulevard, a new high street for Battersea, open to the public from September.
The park was opened by the Mayor of Wandsworth, Cllr Richard Field, with the children from St Mary’s RC Primary School, Battersea, the first to use it.
Next to the Gehry Partners designed Prospect Place, which will begin welcoming residents shortly, the colourful new play space is designed for all ages, so children can discover fun new elements as they get older.
Benjamin Walker, LDA Design’s London studio lead and project lead for the transformation of the public realm for the 42-acre site said: “It’s wonderful to see another piece of the Battersea Power Station jigsaw complete in time for spring.
“LDA Design has been working with the team at Battersea Power Station for a decade now and being part of this monumental transformation means a lot to us. I’m looking forward to bringing my own children here – their exuberance helped shape this colourful, climbable landscape, which brings a touch of tree house to the city. Inspired by the planting around this new riverside neighbourhood, there is adventure and challenge to be had in this playground and I can’t wait to hear the peals of laughter and see children enjoying this space.”
With the opening of Prospect Park comes a new public footpath running from the Zone 1 Battersea Power Station Underground station through to the south of the Power Station and Circus West Village, the first chapter in the regeneration of Battersea Power Station. This shorter and more direct route makes it even easier to access the great mix of restaurants, cafés, fitness and leisure offerings already open at this riverside neighbourhood.
Once open to the public from September 2022, Battersea Power Station will form the centrepiece of a new ‘15-minute’ live, work and play neighbourhood, which will act as a town centre for the immediate and wider local communities, a new business quarter for the capital and a leisure destination for Londoners and international visitors. The Power Station will be home to 254 residential apartments, over 100 retail shops, restaurants and cafés, including a food hall, office and unique event spaces, as well as a Chimney Lift Experience offering 360° views from the top of the Power Station’s North West chimney.
The retail and leisure experience will continue on a welcoming new high street with public realm by LDA Design. Electric Boulevard runs from the south of the Power Station, between the Frank Gehry designed Prospect Place and Foster + Partners’ Battersea Roof Gardens. It will offer a mix of office space, shops, bars and restaurants, a park, playground, and a new 164-room hotel.
The new Northern Line extension gives this new riverside neighbourhood its own Zone 1 London Underground station, which means Battersea Power Station is now within 15 minutes of the West End and the City.
All images copyright Charlie Round-Turner / Battersea Power Station
