New Owner For Gas Holder Site

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St James has bought the land from National Grid

The redevelopment of the disused gas holder site in Nine Elms has come a step closer after St James announced it has purchased the land from National Grid.

The disused gasholders site is set to make way for new homes. The site was decommissioned in 2012 and demolition work is already underway.

St James, which is currently building the Riverlight development on Nine Elms Lane, plans to create around 750 new homes on the former gasworks including affordable housing for local people.

A planning application will be submitted to the council in late 2014.

Last year St James purchased the Marco Polo House site which neighbours the gasholders.

Improvements to the gas network and new gas storage techniques mean that gas holders like this one are no longer needed.  

Ravi Govindia, leader of Wandsworth Council and co-chair of the Nine Elms Vauxhall Partnership, said: "Another piece of the Nine Elms jigsaw is now in place and we can look ahead with confidence to this important site being transformed into new homes and business space. St James is a founding member of the Nine Elms Vauxhall Partnership and is fully committed to our vision for this part of central London.

“The gas holders occupy a key location between Battersea Park and the new town centre and tube station being created at Battersea Power Station. New pedestrian routes through the gas holders site could be hugely beneficial for all concerned.”

The Nine Elms on the South Bank regeneration area includes 480 acres of land between Battersea Park and Lambeth Bridge.

There are more than 20 interconnected development sites across the area, many of which are now underway including Riverlight, Embassy Gardens, Battersea Power Station and the new US Embassy.  

Throughout Nine Elms, everything from roads to basic utilities are being improved to prepare the area for an increase in homes, jobs and visitors. The combined cost of the overhaul is expected to be around £1bn which is being funded by the private sector.

Every residential development in Nine Elms includes new on-site affordable homes for local people. A total of around 2,700 affordable properties are planned across the district.

Wandsworth Council is helping unemployed local residents secure work and training opportunities on Nine Elms development sites via a dedicated local recruitment service.

 

March 21, 2014