Two businesses have been ordered to close in Elephant and Castle by Transport for London (TfL), after a recent inspection uncovered the roofing needs urgent repairs.
Chillies Tandoori Grill on St George’s Circus was ordered to vacate its premises several weeks ago so TfL, which owns the unit, can carry out the repairs.
TfL will also need to carry out repairs in the shop next door which used to be a coffee shop but has not been occupied since 2023.
Local residents spotted a closure notice posted on the front door of Chillies several weeks ago, fuelling rumours that TfL had repossessed the units ahead of plans to redevelop the nearby Bakerloo Line depot on London Road.
However a spokesperson for Places for London, TfL’s property arm, confirmed there are no plans to redevelop the site, and that they asked the business to temporarily vacate the unit so roof repairs uncovered during a recent inspection could be carried out.
They said that once the work is finished the former tenants will be given the opportunity to move back in before the sites are offered to anyone else.
TfL owns the units because of their proximity to the Elephant and Castle London Underground depot. Any structural problems near the live railway could cause considerable issues for the running of the Tube network.
A Places for London spokesperson said: “During inspections of our properties in St George’s Circus we found roofing in urgent need of repair. Unfortunately these repairs cannot be completed while tenants are trading so last year we asked them to vacate the unit and continue to work with them to find an alternative solution.
“Safety is at the forefront of Places for London’s decision making and as has been necessary here we have had to make a swift but difficult decision to move our tenant out of the unit so we can ensure the safety of all in the area.”
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