Battersea Power Station (Hansard, 14 June 1995)

The Earl of Lindsay
My Lords, proposals for the future use of any site are a matter for the owner of the land concerned in the first instance.

§ Lord Gisborough
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer. Does he agree that Battersea power station is an increasingly dilapidated eyesore across the river? Does he further agree that if someone were to apply for planning permission to build four 300-foot chimneys, it would quite rightly be thrown out, so there is little justification for keeping the ones that are there already? Furthermore, does my noble friend agree that now would be an apt time to remove listing from that building so that it can be redeveloped during the present period of fine architecture?

The Earl of Lindsay
My Lords, I can reassure my noble friend that the building is not in a dilapidated condition. In fact, English Heritage and the London Borough of Wandsworth monitor its condition closely. Both have the power either to issue a repairs notice or to require urgent works action should they believe it necessary. I can reassure my noble friend that the owners are carrying out repairs when the need arises. If my noble friend were to apply for permission to build four 300-foot towers, it is by no means certain that his application would be thrown out. Each application is judged on its merits.

§ Lord Strabolgi
My Lords, as it is current policy to pull down particularly ugly buildings, such as that belonging to the Department of the Environment and certain tower blocks, could not consideration also be given to demolishing this hideous and redundant power station which resembles an upturned table and is a particularly ugly blot on the landscape?

The Earl of Lindsay
My Lords, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The noble Lord obviously does not enjoy the profile of Battersea power station. The Government believe that the building still has the special qualities which were held to justify its listing in the first place. No proposal for its delisting or demolition has been forwarded. But if one were, once again it would be judged on its merits initially by the London Borough of Wandsworth as the planning authority. What may bring the noble Lord some comfort is that the Government have recently announced that the public, including owners, are to be asked for their views before decisions are taken on whether some buildings should be listed. At first that will apply only to some 40 post-war buildings—an exercise which is currently under way.

§ Lord Geddes
My Lords, will my noble friend advise whether there are any procedures whereby, a building having been listed—as in this Question, Battersea power station—there can be an appeal against such listing?

The Earl of Lindsay
My Lords, I shall have to consult my colleagues in the Department of National Heritage and write to my noble friend on that point.

§ Lord Williams of Elvel
My Lords, the noble Earl said that the Government thought that Battersea power station had certain special qualities. Will he tell the House precisely what special qualities the Government think it has?

The Earl of Lindsay
My Lords, it is a very fine example of a building of that type.

§ Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone
My Lords, is not the only list that Battersea power station ought to be on the list of buildings which should be demolished by high explosive?

The Earl of Lindsay
My Lords, I would point out to my noble and learned friend that we are convinced that the building still has the special qualities that were held to justify its listing in the first place. Perhaps I may stress that the fact that a building is listed does not stop proposals coming forward to develop it, to delist it or to demolish it. Any such proposal will be treated on its merits.

§ Lord Ezra
My Lords, before any of those various drastic proposals are adopted, will the Government give serious consideration to restoring Battersea power station to its original use but using the most up-to-date technology? For example, would not it be a good idea to make it a combined heat and power station and, as its feed stock, use the refuse generated by the good people of Battersea?

The Earl of Lindsay
My Lords, the progress in this country of combined heat and power would be much worse than it is if it were not for the noble Lord and his fierce advocacy of it. All I can suggest is that he contacts the owners with that suggestion to see whether it fits in with the master plan which I believe they envisage.

§ Lord Wyatt of Weeford
My Lords, is the Minister aware that to many people not blinded by convention Battersea power station appears to be a remarkable and beautiful building?

The Earl of Lindsay
My Lords, there is a wide body of people who would share the noble Lord's view. English Heritage monitors the value of that building and its surviving structure.

§ Lord Dubs
My Lords, will the Minister confirm that if the building were to be pulled down—a building which was acquired from the CEGB by the present consortium for £1.5 million—that would represent a capital gain of some £100 million to £150 million to the present owners? That would be an unacceptable undertaking. Is not the right course to seek to have the present owners, or those who are about to acquire it, develop the site in such a way that it is sensitive to the interests of local people?

The Earl of Lindsay
My Lords, the planning authority involved, the London Borough of Wandsworth, which I am aware the noble Lord knows well, is seeking the option that he has just suggested as a first priority. As for the noble Lord's arithmetic in the first part of his question, I will neither confirm nor deny it.

§ The Earl of Lauderdale
My Lords, could my noble friend say who are the present owners?

The Earl of Lindsay
My Lords, no.