Elephant and Castle redevelopment sparks fears for local businesses

By Grainne Cuffe, local democracy reporter

A £1billion redevelopment in Elephant and Castle has left some worried that the project will force out small businesses, they have told planners.

Delancey, the firm behind the demolition and redevelopment of the iconic Elephant and Castle shopping centre, and Lendlease are building almost 1,000 flats and shops on the site of the 1965 mall, and moving the London College of Communication to a new campus around the hub.

A Southwark planning committee approved minor amendments to Delancey’s development on July 6, which included another four homes, slight reductions in building heights, and more workspace.

The council and Delancey say that all eligible traders from the doomed mall have been relocated or offered new premises.

But some have yet to find alternative premises, while others were relocated further out.

And local businesses are worried about the impact the changes to the area will have.

Alex Gonzales, who runs a restaurant in Tiendas Del Sur, a small Latin American shopping centre near the development, said it has its “pros and cons”.

“The shopping centre used to be run-down so a new, clean building will be good. But the downfall is that a lot of businesses had to leave.

“I know a restaurant in the shopping centre couldn’t find a place. Some did find a place but it’s not as central as here so it will affect them financially, especially with the pandemic.

“London has to be changed but like everywhere, it’s putting the poor people out and bringing the people with money in,” he said.

Syed Amar, who owns a nearby newsagent, said he is glad the area is being redeveloped.

He said: “It will good to have it here because more people will come here for shopping and they’ll come in here.”

Jigna Thakkar, who works at G Café by the Tube station, said she’s afraid small businesses won’t survive after the area is redeveloped.

“It’s growing so fast and it won’t be good for the regular people who live here. House prices are going so high because of the redevelopment.

“The prices for flats are so high that you can’t even think of going to view them.

“They are just building it for rich people. The small businesses around here won’t be able to survive.

“All the big firms will be there, Marks and Spencer, Pret, all the posh ones. I loved the old Elephant and Castle – I was really attached to it.

“When you went there you would get a good feeling and it wasn’t very expensive. It was a nice community.

“I know people who have just given up. This is the right time to just give up and leave,” she said.

Jigna, who also lives in the area, added that she might have to leave herself as she doesn’t “like the way things are going”.

The Elephant and Castle shopping centre, which closed its doors last year after more than 50 years, is now completely gutted with work ongoing to build a “new town centre”.

The plans include nearly 1,000 new homes, 330 classed as “affordable”, and 116 of which will be let at social rent.

The London College of Communication will also be redeveloped.

“Up the Elephant” campaigners have been fighting for years against the number of social homes on offer.

They took Southwark Council to court over its approval of Delancey’s plans, but the High Court backed the local authority’s decision in 2019, while the Court of Appeal backed it in June, 2021.