BATTERSEA POWER STATION redevelopment, confirmed yesterday, “will create up to 26,000 jobs” according to the man in charge of the riverside scheme.

“As the UK fights its way out of recession, major projects such as Battersea Power Station will be key to drive inward investment and job creation,” Rob Tincknell, CEO of the Battersea Power Station Development Company, told the Telegraph today.

“Our development will, at its completion, be worth around £8bn to the economy, and create up to 26,000 jobs.”

Though building work is set to start “before the end of the year”, those jobs won’t all come at once, but will instead be spread over the estimated 12 years it takes for the derelict site to be transformed.

Big numbers dominate talk about Battersea Power Station. As well as the tens of thousands of jobs, the scheme is to build 3,500 homes, offer 160,000 sq ft of offices and cost around £8bn.

On top of that, the redevelopment – which has been talked about for 30 years – is to include a new riverside park and two new Northern Line Tube stations, with the possibility of more to come

“The district-wide regeneration programme will be one of the greatest sources of new jobs and homes in the country over the next few years,” said Ravi Govindia, leader of Wandsworth Council.