Battersea Park rail station is to be modernised and upgraded this year to serve the redevelopment of the adjoining famous power station which has been derelict for years.
Developers Parkview International have awarded Costain a design and build contract to improve the station.
Detailed design work will continue until August with construction works programmed to commence in September. It will take approximately two years.
Planning consent was granted by Wandsworth Council in November 2004.
The existing Grade II listed station hall will be restored. A completely new station box adjacent to the listed hall will be built and new station entrances on Queens Circus and Prince of Wales Drive.
A mezzanine deck below the platforms with have new stair and lift access, and the arches under the platforms will be opened up to create a new public arcade area with shops, cafés and other facilities.
Platform 1 will be rebuilt and the other four platforms substantially refurbished and covered by new canopies.
It is estimated that the cost of the works will be in the region of £26million, all of which will be funded by Parkview.
The plans have been drawn up in conjunction with the station owners, Network Rail and the station operator, Southern Railway.
Parkview has concluded a number of agreements with Network Rail in relation to the proposed works as well as entering into a long term lease in respect of the arches.
The new shops and facilities will be leased and managed by Parkview, and the pedestrian public spaces between the arches will be jointly managed by Parkview and Network Rail.
The designers for the station will be architects Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners, working with Atkins Design and Engineering Solutions
Battersea Park station is a key part of the transport strategy for the Power Station Development and Parkview estimates that it will be the conduit for up to 40 per cent of visitors to the site.
It provides a frequent service to Victoria, Clapham Junction, London Bridge and south London, Surrey, and Sussex. The short walk to the power station will be landscaped.
Set on a 38-acre site alongside 1235 ft of prime Thames riverside frontage, the redevelopment of the Battersea Power Station site is one of the largest urban regeneration projects in central London.
The developers aim to create a new cultural, entertainment, business and events focus supported by a dynamic and wide-ranging hotel, leisure and retail offering.
Simply called The Power Station, London, the vision for the development embraces a place of fun and celebration; an international meetings and events venue and a new centre for the creative industries.
Surrounding the Power Station will be two hotels, over 70,000 square metres of Class A office accommodation, a 2000+ seat auditorium and 750 homes.
Information from: Ian Rumgay, Parkview International London Plc
Phone: +44 (0)20 7501 0688
Mobile: +44 (0)7803 903 602
Email: ianrumgay at pilp.com