Decorating Battersea and Nine Elms Riverside Developments

A Riverside Zone in Rapid Transformation

The stretch of the south bank from Vauxhall through Nine Elms to the newly restored Battersea Power Station is one of London's most significant development zones of the past decade. Thousands of new apartments have been built across schemes including Embassy Gardens, Riverlight, New Covent Garden, and the Power Station itself, alongside older riverside stock in SW11. The decorating challenges here are quite different from those in Belgravia or Chelsea just across the river.

New-Build Apartments: Managing the Developer Finish

Most purchasers in Nine Elms and Battersea riverside schemes take their apartments with a developer specification finish: typically a mid-sheen emulsion in magnolia or off-white, painted onto plasterboard partitions that have not been properly sanded between coats. The result is a surface that looks passable at first glance but quickly shows its limitations — roller marks visible in raking light, joints telegraph through as the building settles, and touch-up work that never quite matches.

Before any aesthetic decorating can begin, the substrate needs to be addressed. A full sand-down of the existing paint film, spot-filling of joints and dimples, and a mist coat of thinned emulsion establishes the proper base. We would then apply two full coats of the specified product in sequence.

The high ceilings common in riverside developments — typically 2.7m to 3m in apartments, higher in penthouses — require working from tower scaffolds or podium steps rather than standard step ladders. Factor this access requirement into your programme: it adds time but is non-negotiable for a quality finish.

Luxury Penthouses: Working to a Higher Specification

The upper floors of riverside schemes in this area attract buyers and tenants who expect a finish commensurate with the price point. This typically means high-build paint systems rather than standard emulsion, spray-applied finishes to woodwork, and detailed attention to transitions between surfaces.

For penthouse walls, Little Greene Intelligent Matt or Mylands Matt Emulsion deliver a velvety depth that standard trade emulsions cannot match. The cost premium is real — roughly double the product cost per litre — but the visual difference in a flat with floor-to-ceiling glazing and strong natural light is immediately apparent.

Bespoke joinery, which is common in high-end riverside units, needs spray finishing for the cleanest result. We use an airless spray setup on cabinets, built-in wardrobes, and feature walls where the specification calls for a lacquered or satin finish. Products from Teknos or Milesi, both used extensively in furniture manufacture, give a factory-grade result that brush application cannot replicate.

Ironmongery protection — taping off handles, hinges, and floor trims before spray work — is time-consuming but critical. On a penthouse with extensive built-in joinery, allow a full day for masking before a single trigger is pulled.

Communal Areas in Large Residential Blocks

Riverside developments typically have extensive communal areas: lobbies, lift cars, corridors, plant room access doors, and stairwells. These spaces receive significantly more wear than individual apartments and need to be specified accordingly.

For communal walls, we use Dulux Trade Diamond Matt or Johnstone's Covaplus Vinyl Matt rather than standard emulsions — both are scrubbable and rated for frequent cleaning without burnishing. In lift lobbies and heavily trafficked corridors, a full-height dado of Dulux Trade Diamond Eggshell provides extra protection.

Communal area work in occupied buildings requires careful scheduling. Most managing agents specify work outside core hours — typically 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday in shared lobbies — and require dust sheets and floor protection throughout. In schemes with concierge services, works access is often managed via the building management team.

Fire door painting in communal areas requires specific attention. Third-party certified fire doors must not have their seals, closer mechanisms, or intumescent strips disturbed during redecoration. Paint should not be applied to the door edges in a way that could compromise the fit. We always confirm with the building manager or fire consultant before touching fire door sets.

Battersea Power Station Developments

The Power Station itself and the surrounding residential and commercial buildings have their own character — a mix of the restored heritage structure with contemporary new-build. Decorating work in these buildings ranges from heritage restoration in the original turbine hall commercial spaces to standard residential fit-out in the apartment blocks.

For the heritage elements, lime-based finishes and sympathetic colour palettes are appropriate. The brick interior surfaces of the Power Station's restored areas should not be treated with standard emulsion. Where painting is required adjacent to or over historic brick, a breathable masonry paint — Keim or Limebase — is the right specification.

The residential towers surrounding the station are standard contemporary construction. Works schedules are coordinated through the Power Station's asset management team, and access restrictions during events at the venue need to be factored into project planning.

Ready to Work on Your Battersea or Nine Elms Property?

We work across SW8, SW11, and the Nine Elms zone regularly — from landlord void redecorations in mid-market rental blocks to full penthouse fit-outs in luxury riverside schemes. We understand the access challenges, the specification expectations, and the building management protocols in these developments.

Request a free quote or get in touch to discuss your project.