THE Battersea Power Station redevelopment project in London led by a Malaysian consortium of SP Setia, Sime Darby Property and Employees Provident Fund will ensure existing neighbourhoods flourish, while attracting a wealth of new businesses to the area.
Minister for London Jo Johnson said it is exciting to see the work that is ongoing as part of the regeneration project at Battersea — a famous landmark in London.
“The Northern Line extension is a key part of this (Battersea). We have to be ambitious for London in the decades to come and this will bring new jobs and opportunities to the area,” he said after speaking to apprentices working at the Battersea Power Station site in Wandsworth, to mark the 1,000th person placed into work through the borough’s successful Work Match scheme.
Johnson also visited the site of the new London Underground extension — where tunnelling works are now complete ready to extend the Northern Line to Battersea, previously backed by government investment through a £1 billion (RM billion) loan to the Greater London Authority.
Two new stations are being built in Nine Elms (Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station), with work targeted for completion in 2020, just ahead of Apple moving their London headquarters into Battersea Power Station.
The Northern Line Extension will bring Battersea and surrounding areas to within 15 minutes of the West End and City. Not only will it provide better transport connections to the part of south London, but it will also enable the regeneration of the area, spurring economic growth by supporting around 25,000 new jobs and more than 20,000 new homes.
“I enjoyed meeting some of the people who have found work through Wandsworth’s scheme, and wish them continued success in the future.
This comes alongside the government’s drive to create three million quality apprenticeships,” said Johnson in a statement.
Wandsworth Council set up the Work Match scheme in 2013 to help local residents into work, and struck up a partnership with Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC) to match local people to job vacancies.
In total, 150 apprentices have worked in construction as part of the Battersea project — in jobs ranging from crane drivers to carpenters—with more than half coming from the local community.
BPSDC chairman Datuk Wong Tuck Wai said: Providing opportunities for local people is ingrained in Malaysian culture and therefore a huge priority for us, hence our involvement with Wandsworth’s Work Match programme and the establishment of the Battersea Academy of Skills Excellence launched in 2016. This will remain a key focus throughout the lifetime of this project and long after the regeneration of the area has completed.
“This is such an iconic landmark that Malaysians are very proud to have invested in. Not only are we entrusted to restoring the Power Station to its former glory, but we are also committed to delivering a world-class destination for all to enjoy.”
Leader of Wandsworth Council, Cllr Ravi Govindia said the council was proud of what the team at Work Match has done for the residents.
“As the range of jobs available in the Nine Elms area grows and changes with new shops and hospitality businesses opening up, we have found that businesses really trust Work Match to provide them with excellent candidates.”