First major Elephant & Castle building gets the green light

Southwark Council has given the go-ahead for the first significant construction in the regeneration of London’s Elephant & Castle.

The St Mary’s residential development will see the construction of a 37-storey tower. Comprising over 280 homes built across technologically advanced concrete flooring, work is due to get under way next summer.

The 284 apartments will see innovative and environmentally friendly design used throughout the site. Outdoor space will be provided in every block. For example, drainage systems will use rainwater in key areas, and energy use will be as clean and efficient as possible.

The main tower will also see the development of a multi-million pound leisure centre and swimming pool – replacing what is already on the site.

Alongside the residential block, the Squire & Partners designed development also sees the construction of a creative business space pavilion, and more than 7,000 square feet of retail and leisure space on the ground floor.

It is the first major step in the regeneration of the south London area, which will see a total investment of £1.5bn. Rising above the top of all other buildings in the area, it will become the latest in a list of landmark buildings going up in the capital.

It will offer far more than landmark status to the area though, as the building plays a key role in representing the area’s regeneration.

Work on the build is scheduled to start in the middle of 2013, with a completion date of autumn 2014 for the tower and December 2015 for the pavilion.