The total — equivalent to almost a quarter of the cost of the entire scheme — was boosted by a fresh wave of buying during a glitzy “world tour” of the plans for the development.

Sting and his wife Trudie Styler are among those who snapped up apartments in or close to the Grade II* listed riverside building that famously featured on the cover of the Pink Floyd album Animals.

Flats in the Lord Foster and Frank Gehry-designed third phase of the Malaysian-backed scheme were put up for sale during the road show in early November.

Actress Kate Beckinsale at the Battersea Power Station launch party


 

The tour included exhibitions and receptions in Paris, New York, Shanghai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Beijing, Doha and Milan and was also aimed at persuading office tenants, restaurateurs and retailers to take space.

As well as the former Police front man, the events were attended by Hollywood actress Kate Beckinsale, Mad Men star Jared Harris and DJ Leslie Kirchhoff.

• 
  The Hanging Gardens of Battersea: Roof top allotments 15 storeys up at power station
  

• 
  First look inside Battersea Power Station apartments – where a studio flat costs £495,000
  

• 
  Mine’s a Power house: meet the new residents moving into Battersea
  

• 
  Battersea Power Station plan for ‘street food market in the sky’

Rob Tincknell, chief executive of Battersea Power Station Development Company, said the global reaction had been “absolutely extraordinary” with apartments sold in every city visited. Mr Tincknell said he was also in talks with two major US companies interested in taking about 200,000 sq ft each for new European headquarters.

An artist’s impression of an interior scene at the development


 

In addition there have been  expressions of interest from 68 overseas retail brands, 30 restaurateurs — mainly from New York — and a major North American leisure operator that plans to occupy an entire floor of the power station.

The first wave of sales last year saw more than 800 apartments in the first phase sold within days, although three large penthouses remain on the market. The second phase of apartments, in the vast brick former generator itself, is about 90 per cent sold following its launch in April with only about 24 apartments still on the market.

A look at a proposed layout for one of the flats


 

Of the 539 apartments put up for sale in phase three, launched last month, about half have been sold.

Prices range from £350,000 for a studio in phase one to as much as an estimated £30 million for the most prestigious penthouses in the power station itself.

Mr Tincknell said that about 60 per cent of the homes sold so far have gone to London-based buyers.

The developers have only actually received a fraction of the £1.8 billion worth of deals agreed as buyers pay for their homes in stages, starting with a reservation fee followed by 10 per cent of the price on exchange.