A temporary immersive exhibition space and courts for the racquet sport padel could open at Battersea Power Station under new plans.
The facilities would be in place for five years while permanent plans for the site are brought forward, as part of the £9billion redevelopment of the power station.
The plans from developer Battersea Project Land Company Limited, submitted to Wandsworth Council, would see the temporary facilities built at phase six of the 42-acre redevelopment site on Cringle Street.
The overall scheme has been divided into eight phases and aims to create a new riverside neighbourhood in South London, with homes, shops, bars, restaurants, cafés, offices and more than 19 acres of public space.
The proposed exhibition building would host interactive digital and physical exhibitions with different themes. It would be operated by Neon and have a café.
There would be two exhibitions a year, running for a total of five years, and the themes would range from historical to entertainment, according to a planning statement submitted with the application – including Jurrasic World, Machu Picchu, Mummies and Marvel.
An indoor sports facility operated by Rocket Padel is also planned, with four padel courts, a lounge space, warm up area, showers, changing facilities and another café.
The planning statement said Neon would provide 5,000 free tickets for local schools to attend exhibitions, along with 1,000 free tickets to local charities, community groups and youth groups.
It added that Rocket Padel would provide three free taster sessions a week at the proposed leisure facility and offer local schools two hours of free coaching every week.
The statement said the temporary facilities would bring “much-needed activity” to an otherwise underused site, create “an attractive and vibrant area for residents, workers and visitors, as well as helping to form the character and distinctiveness of a new place to the east of the power station”.
It added: “The proposed development is highly accessible by public transport, walking and cycling routes which will be able to accommodate the expected capacity.”
The first phase of the power station redevelopment, known as Circus West Village, was completed in 2017 and includes hundreds of new homes, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities.
The restored Grade II* listed power station opened to the public in October last year under the second phase of the scheme. It has hundreds of shops, a cinema, a food hall, a glass chimney lift and more homes.
The council will make a decision on the temporary facilities proposed for phase six of the redevelopment site in due course.
