Battersea Power Station (BPS) is instantly recognisable. Its four white chimneys featured on the front of Pink Floyd's 1976 Animals album and it has a firm place in Londoners' hearts as much-loved landmark.

But since it stopped generating power in 1983 a string of failed attempts to reclaim the grade II-listed buildings for modern times have flopped.

First there were plans to transform it into a theme park and when these fell through renewed attempts to redevelop into to flats, offices, shops and restaurants almost ran aground.

But the power station was saved in January 2018 after the historic building was snapped up by Malaysian investors for £1.6bn.

Tech giant Apple is planning to make the power station its UK headquarters in 2021 and shops and restaurants have already begun to open in the 42-acre site around it.

As Battersea Power Station is on the brink of getting a new lease of life we look take a look at its history and what its going to become.

When was it built?

Nestled on the southern banks of the Thames in Nine Elms, BPS was built in two parts. The first part of the coal-fired power station was built in the 1930s and the second went up in the 1950s.

The station's iconic chimneys were painstakingly restored as part of the regeneration project

It supplied 20% of all of London's electricity needs and was the third largest generator in the UK.

When did it open?

It opened as a functioning in 1933 and generated power until it was decommissioned in 1983.

Luxury flats have gone up right by Battersea Power Station

Who owns Battersea Power Station?

Malaysian investors bought the main building, but not the 42-acre site surrounding it for £1.6bn in 2018.

What is it used for?

The power station itself will house offices, shop and homes with Apple being the biggest tenant- it will put 1,400 staff on six floors in the central boiler house.

The first phase of the £9bn regeneration to 42-acre site around the station is already completed. It's called Circus West Village, is open to the public and comprises of new restaurants, bars, cafés and shops as well as high-end flats. More than 1,000 people already live there.

There are plans for 25,000 people to be living and working at Battersea Power Station by 2021

The regeneration projects plans to bring 4,329 new homes, 250 new shops, cafés and restaurants and 22,000 new jobs to the BPS site by 2022.

When will it reopen?

The power station itself will reopen in 2021.

Pop culture appearances

Rock band Pink Floyd famously featured Battersea Power Station on their 1976 Animals album cover, after they flew a huge inflatable pig over it.

Part of The Beatles film, Help was shot there as was a Dr Who episode starring David Tenant and Elton John has even performed there.

Pink Floyd flew an inflatable pig over Battersea Power Station for their 1977 Animals album cover

The building appears on the following artworks and album covers among many others.

The US cover of The Orb's 1991 album, Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld.

The booklet art for The Who's 1973 album, Quadrophenia.

The back cover of Morrissey's 1990 album Bona Drag.

The background art for the cover of the 2001 Petula Clark boxed set, Meet Me in Battersea Park.

A photograph on the inside case of Muse's 2009 album, The Resistance.

Battersea Power Station was also the name of Junior's Eyes' 1969 album who went on to become David Bowie's backup band in the late 1960s.