Battersea landscape

The early to mid-20th century industrial masterpiece that is Battersea power station in southwest London has been allowed to fester under a succession of owners and governments since it was decommissioned in the early 1980s during the Thatcher regime as a coal-fired generator. It has not had a roof for years. It used to have a beautiful Art Deco interior.

By any civilised standards, the decline of this building despite its Grade II* listing is a gross example of the British institutional vandalism that was encouraged and promoted by the Tories in the nouveaux spivs era 30 years ago.

It is now surrounded by somewhat surreal boarding as a prelude to what may or may not be a successful attempt to salvage and redevelop the site. History teaches me not to hold my breath in blind optimism.