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Blues versus blues: why is team Boris so cool towards Chelsea's Battersea power station plan? Blues versus blues: why is team Boris so cool towards Chelsea's Battersea power station plan?
(1 day later)
Chelsea FC's bid to buy the Battersea power station site with the aim of constructing, "one of the most iconic football stadiums in the world," there has divided opinion. Rowan Moore anticipates the same problems as previous schemes proposed for reviving London's most magnificent disused building:Chelsea FC's bid to buy the Battersea power station site with the aim of constructing, "one of the most iconic football stadiums in the world," there has divided opinion. Rowan Moore anticipates the same problems as previous schemes proposed for reviving London's most magnificent disused building:
Gigantism, the destruction of the essential qualities of the old building, and rather obvious issues with transport and local residents. It is hard to see how dropping a stadium on the power station would be anything other than an awkward coupling: a camel with a hippo, say.Gigantism, the destruction of the essential qualities of the old building, and rather obvious issues with transport and local residents. It is hard to see how dropping a stadium on the power station would be anything other than an awkward coupling: a camel with a hippo, say.
So that's two more unglamorous animals linked with the white elephant. Before those, of course, we had Pink Floyd's flying pig. But Christine Murray at the Architects' Journal sees beauty in the putative blue beast:So that's two more unglamorous animals linked with the white elephant. Before those, of course, we had Pink Floyd's flying pig. But Christine Murray at the Architects' Journal sees beauty in the putative blue beast:
The exclusive early concept sketch by KPF, who are working with Rafael Viñoly on the bid, shows a design that both maintains the integrity of the original building, while giving this stunning white elephant a brilliant legacy. If built, it could join FC Braga by Eduardo Souto de Moura as one of the most architecturally atmospheric stadia in the world.The exclusive early concept sketch by KPF, who are working with Rafael Viñoly on the bid, shows a design that both maintains the integrity of the original building, while giving this stunning white elephant a brilliant legacy. If built, it could join FC Braga by Eduardo Souto de Moura as one of the most architecturally atmospheric stadia in the world.
Who would not want to see a match or live concert in this iconic venue? It feels exactly right, evoking the kind of old-meets-new mash-up that Britain does best, transforming masterpieces of Victorian industry into fun palaces, from Liverpool's Albert Dock to Manchester's G-Mex, London's Tate Modern to Newcastle's Baltic.Who would not want to see a match or live concert in this iconic venue? It feels exactly right, evoking the kind of old-meets-new mash-up that Britain does best, transforming masterpieces of Victorian industry into fun palaces, from Liverpool's Albert Dock to Manchester's G-Mex, London's Tate Modern to Newcastle's Baltic.
The early signs are, though, that Boris Johnson won't be giving his necessary blessing to the possible European champions' plan. Murray scolds the mayor's chief of staff and deputy for planning Sir Edward Lister, who has already declared, "I don't think the site is suitable for Chelsea, and nor do a lot of people. It's not a goer." Murray writes: The early signs are, though, that Boris Johnson won't be giving his necessary blessing to the possible European champions' plan. Murray scolds the mayor's chief of staff and deputy for planning Sir Edward Lister, who as Property Week reported, has already declared, "I don't think the site is suitable for Chelsea, and nor do a lot of people. It's not a goer." Murray writes:
Lister's stance is rich considering he presided over Wandsworth Council for nearly two decades and accomplished nothing but further decay of the Grade II*-listed structure. If it's traffic he's worried about, Lister should not have backed previous plans for a conference centre, 3,700 homes, offices, shops and restaurants in 2009. The daily throng of commuters would have placed far more pressure on the local transport infrastructure.Lister's stance is rich considering he presided over Wandsworth Council for nearly two decades and accomplished nothing but further decay of the Grade II*-listed structure. If it's traffic he's worried about, Lister should not have backed previous plans for a conference centre, 3,700 homes, offices, shops and restaurants in 2009. The daily throng of commuters would have placed far more pressure on the local transport infrastructure.
Lister's discouragement does seem a bit quick off the mark, given that Chelsea's exact proposals haven't yet been revealed. However, it seems likely to have pleased that other radical Tory borough, Hammersmith and Fulham, where Chelsea's present ground, Stamford Bridge, has stood for over a century. In March Hammersmith and Fulham announced:Lister's discouragement does seem a bit quick off the mark, given that Chelsea's exact proposals haven't yet been revealed. However, it seems likely to have pleased that other radical Tory borough, Hammersmith and Fulham, where Chelsea's present ground, Stamford Bridge, has stood for over a century. In March Hammersmith and Fulham announced:

Chelsea Football Club's future should be at Stamford Bridge and an expanded stadium is possible...The 2010 Premier League champions voiced concerns last week that a 60,000 new-build stadium on their current central Fulham site would cost over £600million and that the planning risks would be "insurmountable"...
Chelsea Football Club's future should be at Stamford Bridge and an expanded stadium is possible...The 2010 Premier League champions voiced concerns last week that a 60,000 new-build stadium on their current central Fulham site would cost over £600million and that the planning risks would be "insurmountable"...
However, Hammersmith & Fulham Council has today said that, while it recognises that expanding the Blues' historic home to 60,000 would not be easy or cheap, it is feasible to add capacity in a way that would benefit the club and local businesses and would not unreasonably affect residents.However, Hammersmith & Fulham Council has today said that, while it recognises that expanding the Blues' historic home to 60,000 would not be easy or cheap, it is feasible to add capacity in a way that would benefit the club and local businesses and would not unreasonably affect residents.
The view that Chelsea's ground should remain where it is was reached when Stephen Greenhalgh, grassroots darling of the Tory right, was Hammersmith and Fulham's leader. Greenhalgh has since stepped down in order to accept Mayor Johnson's invitation to head his office for policing and crime at City Hall. Once confirmed in the post Greenhalgh will work in close proximity to Lister on a daily basis.The view that Chelsea's ground should remain where it is was reached when Stephen Greenhalgh, grassroots darling of the Tory right, was Hammersmith and Fulham's leader. Greenhalgh has since stepped down in order to accept Mayor Johnson's invitation to head his office for policing and crime at City Hall. Once confirmed in the post Greenhalgh will work in close proximity to Lister on a daily basis.
History suggests their relationship will be harmonious. The two men have long been of like mind and, indeed, have worked in concert before, for example on a localism blueprint self-effacingly entitled Magna Carta and the forensic audit panel appointed by Mayor Johnson in May 2008 to propose ways of slashing GLA spending. It would be interesting to know more about why Sir Edward already seems so certain that Chelsea's Battersea stadium idea is a dud.History suggests their relationship will be harmonious. The two men have long been of like mind and, indeed, have worked in concert before, for example on a localism blueprint self-effacingly entitled Magna Carta and the forensic audit panel appointed by Mayor Johnson in May 2008 to propose ways of slashing GLA spending. It would be interesting to know more about why Sir Edward already seems so certain that Chelsea's Battersea stadium idea is a dud.