Delancey’s client fund DV4 and Europe’s largest pension fund asset manager, APG, have revealed the next stage of their emerging proposals for a new town centre at Elephant and Castle. If approved, the plans could bring a cultural and commercial focal point to the heart of Elephant and Castle, with an integrated campus for London College of Communication (LCC), part of University of Arts London (UAL), a 1,000 seat multi-screen cinema and a previously unannounced grass-roots music venue for an audience of 500.
The proposed masterplan by architecture and urban planning practice Allies and Morrison, aims to deliver a “must-visit” town centre destination, with an impressive combination of national and independent London based shops, bars, cafes and restaurants, interspersed between 108,000 sq ft of accessible public space and benefitting from improved access, with wider walkways and a new entrance and ticket-hall for the Northern Line.
This enhanced shopping and leisure destination will also provide over 1,000 new homes, all of which will be priced for a wide range of local earning levels, with the majority available to let on a long-term basis through Get Living London – manager of over 3000 homes at East Village and recently voted ‘Landlord of the Year’ at the RESI Awards for the second year running.
Incorporating the redevelopment of the existing Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre and the adjacent LCC site, the plans also feature the creation of circa 60,000 sq ft of workspace for UAL head office staff plus 12 innovation units for start-up businesses.
Initial proposals for the scheme were first put on public display in July last year with local residents, business and stakeholders invited to comment. Over three quarters of respondents supported the proposals and all feedback has been considered in the shaping of these emerging plans. The most recent proposals will be exhibited between Thursday, 26 May and Saturday 28 May, where the public will again be invited to give feedback as part of the ongoing consultation.
The Elephant and Castle town centre redevelopment is the lynchpin to the wider £3 billion regeneration underway in the area and integral to Southwark’s wider regeneration plan, which includes the creation of a new pedestrianised town centre, brand new park, 5,000 new and replacement homes, approximately 450,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space, and an integrated public transport hub.
It is the second phase of Delancey’s work in the area, following the completion of a residential and retail development located on Elephant Road. This site incorporates over 374 new homes, which will be available to rent later this year, alongside 272 student units across three buildings. The residential offer will be completed by a new Sainsbury’s supermarket, alongside a host of restaurants and enhanced leisure and outdoor space, which will complement the wider scheme.
Jamie Ritblat, on behalf of Delancey, DV4 and APG commented:
“Our ambition is to create a new and improved town centre for Elephant and Castle; one which complements, celebrates and builds upon the existing diversity and vibrancy that this key Zone 1 location is already so renowned for.
Alongside our development work, Delancey prides itself on place-making and taking a tailored approach to each individual project, whether it be delivering the legacy of the 2012 Olympic Games through its multi-award winning new neighbourhood ‘East Village’, or sowing the seeds of a new retail destination in Hackney Wick. We are excited and honoured to be able to use the expertise and lessons learnt from such projects to help us deliver a strong, sustainable and cohesive new town centre for Elephant and Castle, and one which brings economic and social benefits for locals and Londoners alike.
Over the last 3 years we have been in ongoing discussions with key local stakeholders, the public and our partners at UAL in order to ensure we put culture, art, education and – most importantly – the needs of the local community, at the heart of our plans. We are confident that these proposals reflect this and look forward to receiving further feedback to help us deliver this vision.”
The new campus for LCC builds upon a number of high-profile estates investments undertaken by UAL including a £62m regeneration of Camberwell College of Arts, the relocation of London College of Fashion to the Olympic Park at Stratford by 2021 and the completion of its Central Saint Martins campus in King’s Cross in 2011.
Nigel Carrington, Vice-Chancellor of UAL, commented:
“As a world Top Five creative university and the leading supplier of talent to the UK’s creative industries, UAL has been at the heart of Elephant & Castle for over 50 years. We are committed to these exciting proposals, which will make the area South London’s most important business district for the next 50 years.”
Cllr Mark Williams, cabinet member for regeneration and new homes, said:
“The Elephant and Castle was once known as the Piccadilly of the South and that’s what we want to bring back to the area. Southwark is leading on a regeneration programme that we hope will bring people from all over London to Elephant and Castle to enjoy top quality shopping, arts, culture and entertainment as well as benefits for local people like new homes, our newly opened leisure centre and jobs. This is why the council is pleased to be working closely with Delancey on the re-development of the shopping centre and why we are so pleased to see such a range of new cultural facilities, especially a new music venue that we strongly support, included in these plans. I look forward to seeing what our residents think of the proposals now being put to them.”
Details about the public exhibition are as follows:
Venue: Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre, Upper mall within the corner shop located next to the National Railway station entrance
Dates:
Thursday 26 May, 2pm to 8pm
Friday 27 May, 9am to 5pm
Saturday 28 May, 10am to 4pm
