Battersea Power Station names first brands as completion looms

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Mar 2, 2020

One of the most interesting and impressive retail developments in the UK in recent years, the transformation of Battersea Power Station into a giant shopping mall, is edging closer to completion with the first brands taking space there having been named.

The listed building opens as a mall next year and on Monday we learned that Hugo Boss will be opening a store, as well Uniqlo (the latter covering 15,000 sq ft). There will also be a strong beauty focus with premium and high-end brands including Jo Malone London, Mac Cosmetics, Space NK and Kiehl’s.

Other names signed up already are Watches of Switzerland and emerging British eyewear brand Finlay & Co. And the operator behind Olympic Studios and The Cinema at Selfridges, Archlight Cinema, will open its second venue at BPS.

Watches of Switzerland’s CEO Brian Duffy called it an “amazing development” and said “we have looked at the Power Station on the landscape for a number of years and never imagined it would become such a retail destination”.

And Cedric Voix, UK General Manager at Kiehl’s, added: “Opening at Battersea Power Station is also a way for us to demonstrate one more time our belief in the future of retail as we are opening more stores, especially in high footfall locations like train stations. They are the crossroads of millions of travellers looking for the right product, the perfect gift or the best advice.”

The converted power station will also be home to a unique collection of new event spaces in partnership with Camm & Hooper, which will host cultural, fashion and music events.

The developer, Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC), said the retailers named today “are set to bring a new energy to the heritage landmark, setting up shop in the two Turbine Halls".

Turbine Hall A was built in the 1930s in an Art Deco style and will be home to the premium collection of brands, and Turbine Hall B, which was completed in the 1950s, and has more of a brutalist, industrial look and feel, will house "an eclectic range of more contemporary fashion brands”.

Overall, the converted mall will be home to 100+ established, luxury and emerging retail, food and leisure brands. Around 70% of the total commercial space within the development is now let, with more than 45% of the retail and leisure floorspace exchanged or under offer.

As well as creating more than 17,000 jobs, the overall development at Battersea Power Station is expected to draw visitors from across London and beyond. This will be helped by the opening of its own Zone 1 London Underground station next year.