£1bn regeneration of Elephant and Castle back on track

The £1bn regeneration of London's Elephant and Castle is back on after Southwark Council's Executive endorsed the first stage of its Comprehensive Development Framework for the 68 hectare site.

The agreement of the document - Emerging Framework Principles - marks the re-establishment of the regeneration programme of the land which is located at the heart of the London South Central strategy area.

The document, which emphasises the needs of the 10,000 local residents and local businesses serving them, sets out:

* The Elephant and Castle's strategic opportunities and potential for the area;
* The issues affecting the area and its residents;
* The council's vision for the area and its future;

* The principles that will underpin the development framework;
* The next steps in the area's regeneration.

The scheme envisages a large-scale 'borough capital' containing mixed retail, leisure and residential use serving London's South Central catchment area. 

The centre of the Elephant and Castle will be opened up via the demolition of the 1970's Heygate Estate and the re-routing of traffic away from the centre and over a 1000 new houses will be built for Heygate residents.  

The Emerging Framework Principles document will be developed by April into a draft Supplementary Planning Guidance that will form part of Southwark's revised Unitary Development Plan.

The full Comprehensive Development Framework, which will include visual designs by architect Foster and Partners, will be submitted to the Council's Executive in spring 2003 after which it will be released for public consultation.