Southwark regeneration scheme is finalised

A new multi-million pound scheme to regenerate Southwark is now fully in the works, after councillors confirmed the "final piece in the jigsaw" has been identified.

As part of the £3 billion scheme, Southwark Council has confirmed that it will insist on the demolition of Elephant and Castle shopping centre to make way for new facilities and to help improve transport routes in the area.

Councillor Fiona Colley, cabinet member for regeneration at Southwark Council, said the council recently secured the agreement of Transport for London to proceed with making the northern roundabout a peninsular - something it has been pursuing for many years.

"This decision, and specifically the plans for escalator access to the Northern Line from the shopping centre, is game-changing in terms of creating a town centre for Elephant and Castle and has created renewed confidence in the project, which also now includes a brand new leisure centre with pool," she explained.

Describing the shopping centre as the "final piece in the jigsaw" for regeneration, she elaborated on how the council became less and less happy with how the scheme would fit in with the rest of the area's high quality designs as options for refurbishment were developed further.

Councillor Colley said: "The council has now rejected earlier options to retain some parts of the original building and will now insist on full demolition."

She also offered an update on the progress that has already been made, including the reconfiguration of the southern roundabout, the demolition and construction of new homes at Heygate Estate, and the building of a state-of-the art leisure centre with a swimming pool.

Lend Lease is also carrying out a significant amount of work on the £1.5 billion Elephant & Castle regeneration scheme, which will see 3,000 news homes and more than 100,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space delivered over the next decade.

It has already commenced work on One The Elephant, a new 37-storey tower that will featuring 284 new homes, as well the 235-unit Trafalgar Place, on the site of the former Heygate Estate.

Published 12th September, 2013

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