Revised plans for the final phase of a £1.5billion regeneration scheme at Elephant and Castle have been green-lit by Southwark councillors.
Developer, Get Living secured planning permission to build 507 new rental homes and accommodation for 452 students during a meeting of Southwark Council’s Planning Committee last week (March 23).
The development will be constructed at the Elephant West Site, and forms part of Phase 3 of Get Living’s regeneration scheme.
Get Living’s previous consented scheme from 2019 included the delivery of 498 homes, of which 165 were to be ‘affordable’, in three tower blocks ranging between 18 storeys and 33 storeys.
Its revised proposals involve the delivery of 507 homes but with an additional 452 student beds in three tower blocks ranging from 22 to 34 storeys high.
The number of affordable homes remain the same at 165 and will consist of 116 social rent, 12 London Living Rent and 37 Discount Market rent homes.
The revised scheme had been submitted in response to policy and regulatory changes, including the introduction of a second staircase for residential buildings 18 metres or taller in order to comply with the Building Safety Act.
Because student accommodation had been introduced to the revised scheme and had increased the overall number of habitable rooms on site, the affordable housing offer – by habitable room – had dropped from 35 per cent to 27.6 per cent.
During last week’s meeting, the committee heard that the development could not support any additional affordable housing and that an independent review also confirmed this.
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The plans had received 172 objections, two supporting comments and two neutral responses.
A representative of the Metropolitan Tabernacle Baptist Church in Elephant and Castle said they had concerns over the height of the tallest tower and the impact it would have on the church, which is a Grade II listed building.
Meanwhile the Chairperson of a Hayles Tenants and Residents Association asked for further consultation with residents over the traffic management plan, and suggested a planning condition so that heavy goods vehicles use only the main arterial roads and not the nearby Victorian streets because of safety concerns during the construction phase.
Cllr Maria Linforth-Hall and Cllr Graham Neale, ward councillors for St George’s, said they were “deeply concerned” that the proportion of affordable housing had dropped to 27.6 per cent in the revised scheme.
Cllr Neale added: “We urge the committee to address the reduction in proportion of affordable housing to ensure long-term community benefit [and] impose a condition that construction traffic uses the main arterial roads.”
Cllr Neale asked the committee to impose a condition for the delivery and servicing plan to be revised following consultation with residents and that this be reported back to the committee in six months time.
The plans were ultimately approved, but with extra two conditions including that a construction management plan goes back to to the committee for final approval to allow for further consultation with the local community.
After the plans were approved, Rick de Blaby, Chief Executive of Get Living, said: “This planning consent represents the final piece of the jigsaw, enabling a regeneration of real and lasting importance – one that everyone can be proud of for generations to come.
“With housing delivery in London at a critically low level and new home completions set to decline sharply from 2028, developments like this bringing forward essential affordable housing alongside open-market rental homes and student accommodation are even more important.”
He added: “Elephant and Castle is renowned for its rich cultural heritage and we are honoured to be preserving this while bringing new energy and innovation to the area.”
New M&S store and Blank Street Coffee branch to open as part of £500m town centre
Earlier this week, Get Living revealed that Marks and Spencer will be one of the very first retail brands that will be coming to the Elephant and Castle’s £500million new town centre which is set to launch in late 2026.
The town centre, known as the Elephant, forms part of Phase 2 of the scheme which also includes 485 rental homes, 135,000 sq ft of shops, restaurants and leisure space as well as a new London underground ticket hall.
The Elephant has replaced the now-demolished Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre, which was Europe’s first covered shopping centre. The new town centre is expected to bring in an annual footfall of 16 million.
The new M&S branch has been described as a brand-new, market-style food store offering fresh produce and a wide range of on-the-go breakfast, lunch and dinner choices.
Meanwhile the area is also getting a Blank Street Coffee shop and a Jungle Berry café, which sells açaí berry bowls, smoothies and juices.
Phase 2 also includes 485 new homes, of which 172 are affordable. Phase 1, known as Elephant Central, consists of 374 homes and 278 student homes which have been owned and operated by Get Living since 2017.
It is not a good idea to have over 400 student apartments- These being for students in supposedly ‘temporary accommodation’ do not need to comply with the Parker Morris standards of square metres per person and are basically rabbit hutches- It has been known that after a while the developers or freeholders decide that they are unable to ‘fill’ the student accommodation (of which it is known that there is a surplus in London) and apply for ‘change of use’… to what? surprise, surprise… accommodation for normal adults needing somewhere to live that then is too small and totally inadequate – probably for much the same rents as larger placer- but this turns out to be a big win for the developers. this is a cynical ply that should not be allowed- and councils and those who give the green light should keep in mind! BAD IDEA-