Could Battersea Power Station become a five-star hotel?

Reports suggest that talks are in progress about the possibility of turning Battersea Power Station into a five-star hotel.

According to Arabian Business, SP Setia, the Malaysian firm which is behind the redevelopment of the site, is in talks with Dubai's Emaar properties to open a hotel in the grade II listed decommissioned power station.

Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin, CEO of Setia Group, told The Star that phase one of the redevelopment project, named Circus West, comprising of 866 residential units, is due to be completed in 2016.

He confirmed that phase two of the project, which includes retail and entertainment facilities inside the former power station, is now underway - and it is likely to be influenced by the Dubai Mall.

He explains that he is good friends with Mohammad Alabbar, the chairman of Emaar properties, the developer of the Dubai Mall.

He said: "We want to learn from the Dubai Mall; the thinking, the concept behind the largest mall in the world."

He added: "The other reason I wanted to meet was to invite them to open a hotel with us in London."

Liew explains that he's particularly interested in The Address, a three-to-five star hotel. There are already three of these in Dubai, with another under construction.

He says: "It's a business-cum-family hotel, a new concept with first-class service.

"If we can get The Address to come, the Arabs will come." He says that this is because the rooms are laid out to accommodate a big entourage, which is important for Arabs who travel with big families."

SP Setia paid £400million to acquire Battersea Power Station in July 2012, with plans to build 3,500 homes, offices, shops and a park.

Liew is confident that the redevelopment will be a success.

He says: "Battersea will do very well."

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