Today's UK newspaper The Guardian reports that "the sad hulk of Battersea power station, a rotting shell blighting the London skyline for the past 20 years, is about to be declared one of the world's 100 most endangered sites."

"This week Battersea will achieve the unwelcome distinction of joining the biennial register of the the World Monuments Fund, the 2004 Monuments Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites, joining the war-ravaged archaeological sites in Iraq."

The list is based on nominations from the public, and assessment by independent experts. The Guardian continues: "The power station was decommissioned in 1983, but was soon taken on by one of Lady Thatcher's favourite property developers, John Broome, then chairman of the Alton Towers theme park. She promised to perform the opening ceremony for his transformation of Battersea into an Edwardian fun fair, modelled on Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens. All that happened was the removal of the roof of the turbine hall and the demolition of a side wall, which led to such weather damage that important art deco interiors had to be stripped out. A decade ago the Hong Kong-based property developers Victor and George Hwang acquired it, through Parkview International, and a string of glossy announcements for its transformation into offices, hotels, restaurant and shops followed. But the site remains empty, one of the largest inner-city brownfield development sites in Europe."

The building still causes a frisson of excitement when seen looming over the London landscape, and of course holds a special place in Floyd fan's hearts. Let's hope that development work starts soon, so that it doesn't fall into further disrepair... the full story is on The Guardian website.