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Elephant & Castle's £1.5 billion regeneration programme

 

Elephant and Castle is one of London's most famous areas. It lies to the south of the Thames, and in its Victorian heyday was called the 'other West End'. But its glory days are long gone, and now the region is better known for its ugly 1960s architecture, run down shopping centre and huge roundabout. Elephant and Castle for most Londoners is a place to drive through, rather than stop.

 

But Southwark Council has a whole new vision for this dejected part of the capital city. By 2014, the plan is to regenerate Elephant and Castle, to make it into a lively, attractive and exciting place where people live, work and spend their leisure time. This will be a massive £1.5 billion project, which will unlock 75 000m² of retail space, 5,300 new and replacement homes, five new open spaces, landmark buildings, a new City Academy and a new market square.

 

What's more, the intention is to make this enormous project a demonstration of renewable energy technologies - putting a green heart into south London. Elephant and Castle and nearby Aylebury Estate have been selected to become Energy Action Areas. They will be a showcase for low-carbon communities, delivering a range of sustainable energy techniques and technologies. The London Energy Partnership will oversee the project in their role as implementers of the Mayor's strategic energy plan.

 

The overall aim is that carbon emissions will not grow beyond their current levels when this project is complete. Initial studies, taken as part of the redevelopment programme, show that a basket of measures will be needed to achieve this, including:

 

• best practice energy efficiency targets
• installation of combined heat and power
• minimum 10% contribution from renewable energy sources.

Southwark Council will start a selection process to identify partners from the energy sector to jointly establish a commercially viable CHP plant at the Elephant and Castle later in 2005. This will provide the commercial developers with a locally available source of power early in the redevelopment process.

 

The regeneration won't simply be environmental. Southwark Council wants to tackle the area's other problems such as low educational attainment, social exclusion and fear of crime. Steps are being taken to win the hearts of local people, which have already proved successful. Early wins for the redevelopment are that certain parts of the project are already underway.

 

Earlier in August 2005, the Council selected two housing consortia which will develop 1000 new homes in the area. Half the new houses will be for sale, and the other half (of the same build type and quality) will provide new homes for residents of the Heygate Estate. Demolition of Heygate will be the first milestone in the Elephant regeneration. Over the next four years the 1000 homes will be built on 15 different sites around the area.

 

The aim is to create an entirely new spirit for the Elephant and Castle area, supporting existing local communities, and attracting new residents and businesses.  Southwark Council has a number of key objectives for the regeneration process:

 

• attract new investors
• prepare local residents for employment and lifelong learning
• increase job opportunities
• create new buildings, pedestrian oriented streets and spaces
• promote knowledge and awareness of more sustainable ways of living.

Southwark wants a world-class regeneration project, and the highest standards of working practice, design and construction will be required. To find out more about London's most exciting regeneration area, and how the teams involved are going to tackle the challenge, come along to resource05.

 

What will Elephant and Castle 2014 look like?

The new Elephant & Castle will provide a mix of homes, shops, leisure activities, transport connections, office accommodation and open spaces. The plans propose six main 'character' areas.

 

Civic Square

In place of the present-day northern roundabout, a striking new civic square will be created from 2010 to 1014. This will act as a public transport interchange and provide a place for festivals, exhibitions and screenings.

 

The Walworth Road

This will be extended to join the new civic square and create a major new shopping high street full of top-class shops and cafes, after the phased demolition of the Heygate Estate.

 

The railway viaduct

To be transformed into a brand new train station covered by a dramatic glazed concourse with views into central London. The viaduct arches will be opened up to create space for business and enterprise and allow through access between the civic square and the town park.

 

An open air market square

The market square will be similar to Covent Garden or Borough Market.  It will lie just to the east of the arches and provide a contrast to the bustling atmosphere of Walworth Road.

 

Town Park

A new town park surrounded by striking residential blocks, will be created on the site of the Heygate Estate providing a central meeting place. 

 

Heygate Street

Heygate Street will be remodelled to provide a dramatic 40-metre wide, tree-lined boulevard for cars, buses, cycles and the new Cross River Tram. Six to eight-storey buildings will line the boulevard, and house shops, cafes, offices, a library and dentists' and doctors' surgeries on the ground floor.

 

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