Multi-billion pound Elephant & Castle regeneration reaches another milestone

A new milestone has been reached in the multi-million pound redevelopment of Elephant and Castle, which began more than a decade ago. 

The London College of Communication building, part of University of Arts London (UAL), reached its highest point in construction this week, 60 years after the original building in Elephant and Castle opened its doors to students in Oswin Street.

The new building, which sits across the road from the original college and will be home to more than 5,000 students, is being delivered by build-to-rent operators Get Living, in collaboration with property developer Delancey, construction company Multiplex and UAL.

This latest landmark forms phase two of the three-phase development of Elephant and Castle Town Centre, known as The Elephant, worth £4billion of public and private investment.

The third and final phase of the development will begin once the London College of Communication moves into its new building – scheduled for 2027.

This will clear the way for the old campus to be demolished and redeveloped with 507 new homes, of which 49 of will be “affordable” rent and 116 for social rent, over the second half of this decade.

Once complete, the new London College of Communication will stand at the centre of the new town centre, alongside shops, restaurants, leisure uses, and homes for rent as well as a new London Underground station entrance.

Professor Karen Stanton, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor, UAL said: “The new building is a symbol of UAL’s ambition, not only for London College of Communication but for the area and the communities who live here.”

To mark the milestone, UAL hosted a topping out ceremony and were joined by a number of stakeholders from the council, the construction team and creative industries.

Neil Coyle, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, said: “It’s fantastic to celebrate the topping out of the new UAL London College of Communication campus at the Elephant and Castle.

“Once complete, The Elephant will provide much-needed improvements to Elephant and Castle’s transport infrastructure, cultural and retail offerings, and housing needs and every step towards completion is welcome for those who have waited so long for the improvements.”

Pictured top: From left, Naima Ali, Mayor of Southwark and Rick de Blaby, chief executive of Get Living (Picture: Southwark council)