Construction has now commenced on the Rockingham Street student housing tower the ROC Club in Elephant and Castle, marking a significant step forward for the project following its successful progression through the Gateway 2 process in just 21 weeks.
Designed by Maccreanor Lavington and delivered by HG Construction as part of a JV between CKC Properties and Valpre Capital, the project will deliver 244 purpose-built student bedrooms within a design-led, high-density urban form that responds to the tight, triangular site in Elephant and Castle.
Located on a complex, redundant triangle of land at the junction of Rockingham Street and Tiverton Street that incorporates three adjacent railway viaduct arches, the scheme targets the optimisation of a constrained brownfield site while contributing to Southwark’s wider housing delivery ambitions.
The new 24-storey tower will provide 244 high-quality student bedrooms, incorporating two staircases and 67 sqm of commercial space at ground level. Designed with a slim, elegant profile, the building uses carefully selected, robust materials and features low-level green walling, enhancing both the immediate streetscape and the outlook from neighbouring properties.
The massing strategy creates a dynamic form:
- Floors 1–3 extend beyond the base levels, cantilevering on the southwest and northwest frontages.
- The upper 19 storeys step out further still, forming a distinctive silhouette along the southern corner and the east-facing Low Line edge.
- The upper 22 storeys are clad in vertically bonded red brickwork, paired with crisp white brick accents. Openings are made with bronze coloured metalwork, reinforcing the architectural quality and long-term durability of the scheme.
The project aims to reinvigorate the existing viaduct arches by creating a new public passageway, a safe, accessible, and highly permeable pedestrian route that forms a meaningful extension of the ‘Low Line’, enhancing connectivity through Bankside, London Bridge, and Bermondsey. The passageway will be animated by student entrances, communal areas, “kiosk” units, and active arch spaces that include bicycle storage and ancillary uses.
CKC Properties said: “We are ecstatic having received GW2 approval for our first joint venture with Valpre Capital. A complex scheme to say the least but, supported by a very strong Design Team, achieving a 21-week turnaround in an almost unknown environment to the industry is an absolute breathe of fresh air!! Well done all but special thanks to Tasneem Abdulla, Design Lead, at HG Construction and Thomas Fluzin at Anstey Horne. Well done everyone!
Gavin Finnan, Director at Maccreanor Lavington, commented: “Starting on site represents a significant milestone, over the course of the job the design has had to continually evolve to respond to some significant changes in building legislation. The relatively speedy and smooth Gateway 2 approval process confirms the technical robustness of the design and reflects the close collaboration between client, design team, and contractor.”
Adam Quinn, CEO, HG Construction said: “This scheme has overcome evolving requirements throughout its development, reflecting the increasingly challenging landscape for high‑rise residential projects. It is our first project with CKC, and we are delighted to be partnering with them on such a significant PBSA development. With Gateway 2 now secured, we look forward to getting construction underway and bringing forward a scheme that will provide high‑quality student accommodation while delivering significant public realm improvements.”
WSP Director, Giannini, Rodolfo said: “We’re thrilled to collaborate with CKC and Maccreanor Lavington on Rockingham Street. In our role as structural engineer, we’ve integrated structural, civil and geotechnical design to make a constrained urban site work, with careful attention to buildability and the interface with the railway arches and public realm. We’re looking forward to seeing the scheme enrich Elephant and Castle with quality student accommodation, active ground level spaces and better connections for the community.”
The team now moves toward the next phase of delivery, bringing forward a project that will provide much-needed student accommodation, rejuvenate public space, and contribute to the evolving character of Southwark’s Low Line corridor.
