KUALA LUMPUR: The Battersea Power Station development in London was given a boost as the new Northern Line Extension (NLE) opened on Monday.
Battersea Power Development Company Ltd said in a statement this is the first major extension to the London Underground network this century and a major boost for the regeneration of Battersea Power Station, bringing it within 15 minutes of the West End and the City of London.
“The new Tube station joins a number of significant milestones in the most transformational year yet for BPS as it prepares to open its doors to the public next year,” it said.
Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport and Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, were among a small group of stakeholders including local councillors and MPs to travel on one of the first passenger trains from Nine Elms to Battersea Power Station’s new Zone 1 London Underground station on Monday morning.
BPS has contributed over ￡300mil to the NLE which runs from Kennington to Battersea Power Station via Nine Elms and has enabled the regeneration of both these areas.
“With its very own Zone 1 London Underground station now open, this exciting new riverside neighbourhood is expected to draw Londoners, international visitors and workers from across the capital with journey times to the West End and the City taking approximately 15 minutes, boosting the local economy and creating over 17,000 jobs,” BPS said.
It pointed out this milestone is one of many this year for the project and follows the recent news that the former coal-fired power station itself, which lay dormant for decades after it was decommissioned in the 1980s, welcomed its first-ever residents in the Spring following the
completion of Switch House West, the first major element of the building to complete.
The rest of the building will be completing in stages throughout the year, with residents moving into the Boiler House and Switch House East in the coming months.
On a broader front, Circus West Village — the first phase of the iconic ￡9bil, 42-acre Battersea Power Station project welcomed its first residents in 2017.
BPS will also shortly announce further British and international brands set to join a strong line up of retailers already set to open their doors at the London landmark next year.
BPS is being redeveloped by a Malaysian consortium consisting of S P Setia Bhd, Sime Darby Property and the Employees Provident Fund. Both S P Setia and Sime Darby Property are strategic investee companies of Permodalan Nasional Bhd.
Chairman of Battersea Project Holding Company Datuk Ahmad Pardas Senin said: “The launch of the Northern line extension is an historic moment in British transport history and we are delighted to have been able to support and contribute to this pivotal infrastructure project, which is set to significantly enhance the connectivity of this part of London.
“This is a proud day for Malaysia and all those involved in transforming the historic iconic Power Station and its surrounding area, being the largest Malaysian investment in the UK into a new destination where people can live, work and enjoy,” he said.
Chairman of Battersea Power Station Development Company Datuk Wong Tuck Wai said this new mode of transport is a game-changer for Battersea and Nine Elms and undoubtedly makes Battersea Power Station one of the most well-connected destinations in the capital.
CEO of Battersea Power Station Development Company, Simon Murphy said the launch of the Northern line extension is a major milestone in the regeneration of Battersea Power Station.
“Improving transport links and connectivity to this area of London has been fundamental to the development from the very beginning, and we are delighted to have played a key role alongside TfL and others in delivering the first major extension to the London Underground this century,” he said.
Once open to the public next year, Battersea Power Station will house over 100 shops, bars and restaurants, as well as unique events and leisure spaces.