Concerns have been raised over cost of the Battersea Power Station redevelopment project.

Wandsworth Council's Planning Committee Chairman, Cllr Richard Field, claims the scheme is facing "significant challenges" after the committee was asked to review potentially lowering the number of 'affordable' homes of the project.

Cllr Field said: "The escalating cost of restoring the power station building means this development project is facing significant challenges and the committee had a very difficult choice between accepting a potentially lower number of affordable homes, or refusing the application and risk losing all of them.

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"This development also directly funds the Tube extension which is bringing 25,000 jobs to Battersea, so the stakes are extremely high.

"I believe we made the right choice and in doing so have safeguarded the delivery of thousands of other affordable homes across the Nine Elms regeneration area which are dependent on the Northern Line Extension being delivered."

As a result of the changes, developers will now build 386 affordable homes by 2020, two years earlier than previously planned.

In a statement, they said: "Later this year we expect to start work on the first 386 affordable homes which will be ready for local people to move into in 2020, three years ahead of schedule. The team remains focused on delivering the full amount of 15% affordable homes which equates to 636 homes over the course of this project."

(LM)