Battersea Power Station CEO Files Unfair Dismissal Claim Over Alleged Financial Misreporting

Donagh O’Sullivan, the former chief executive of Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC), has filed an unfair dismissal claim, alleging he was ousted after raising concerns about alleged financial misreporting. The dispute centers around the valuation of undeveloped land at the iconic London site, with O’Sullivan claiming inflated values were presented to investors and the public.

Whistleblowing and Dismissal

O’Sullivan, who joined Battersea Power Station as CEO in June 2024, flagged concerns in November 2024 regarding internal accounts that valued undeveloped plots of land at hundreds of millions of pounds more than independent estimates . He reportedly raised these concerns after showing King Charles around the site in December 2024. He was subsequently suspended and dismissed in May 2025 .

O’Sullivan contends he was dismissed on “trumped-up charges” of gross misconduct after acting as a whistleblower . He alleges that after reporting his concerns, he was excluded from the business and later suspended.

Company Response and Allegations

Battersea Power Station strongly denies the allegations, stating it is “robustly defending” against the claims made by O’Sullivan in the employment tribunal . The company asserts that O’Sullivan was dismissed due to poor performance, a lack of strategic leadership, and allegations of misconduct. BPSDC maintains there are no claims made by O’Sullivan relating to inaccuracies in the company’s accounts .

O’Sullivan’s claim focuses on the practice of capitalizing expenses rather than immediately recognizing them as a hit to profits, which he argues led to an overvaluation of the unbuilt portions of the Battersea site . He cites assessments from Jones Lang LaSalle and Knight Frank that indicated lower values for these plots in 2023 and 2024.

Legal Representation and Timeline

Don O’Sullivan is represented by Constantine Law and Nine Chambers , while Battersea Power Station is represented by Brown Rudnick Solicitors and 11 KBW . The case is ongoing in the London South Employment Tribunal and is listed for a final hearing in 2029 .

John Hayes, managing partner at Constantine Law, described the claim as potentially one of London’s highest profile and most valuable whistleblowing cases, given the iconic nature of the Battersea development and its ultimate ownership by the Malaysian state .

Background: Battersea Power Station Development

The £9 billion Battersea Power Station project has transformed a disused power station into a 42-acre estate featuring approximately 2,000 homes and 60 companies . The project is ultimately owned by Malaysian investors, including publicly listed companies SP Setia and Sime Darby Property, and a Malaysian state pension fund.