Elephant and Castle Final Phase Gets Green Light 2026

Key Points

• Revised plans for the third and final phase of developer Get Living’s south London regeneration project at Elephant and Castle have received approval.
• The development is part of a larger masterplan transforming the area, focusing on new housing, community facilities, and improved public spaces.
• Planning permission granted by the London Borough of Southwark for a 1.2-acre site within the ten-acre Elephant Park initiative, ongoing for over a decade.
• Key features include three new buildings with 695 co-living and social housing units, including 20 three-bedroom homes for social rent, and London’s first co-living facility named ‘Chords’.
• A new NHS health centre will serve the growing local population, addressing long-standing healthcare demands.
• Architectural design by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) for developer HUB, with public spaces by landscape firm Gillespies to enhance accessibility.
• The project, valued at around £400 million, introduces co-living-led housing as the largest approval of its kind for HUB.
• Earlier phases and related approvals, such as Delancey’s 2018 £2 billion town centre scheme, have paved the way, including demolition of the old shopping centre.
• Get Living’s West Site plans propose 507 rental homes (165 affordable) plus 452 student bedrooms, responding to a 25% rise in Southwark’s student population over the past decade.
• Site availability for final phase expected in 2028 as part of Get Living’s £1.5 billion masterplan.
• Overall regeneration includes 27 projects across Elephant and Castle, encompassing Elephant Park and the new town centre on the former shopping centre site.
• Unanimous approvals in related projects highlight commitment to mixed-tenure housing, with influences from nearby schemes like Re:shape’s Woolwich Electric Works.

Elephant and Castle (South London News) March 25, 2026 – Revised plans for the third and final phase of developer Get Living’s ambitious south London regeneration project have been given the green light by the London Borough of Southwark, marking a pivotal step in transforming this key area. The approval covers a 1.2-acre site integral to the decade-long, ten-acre Elephant Park masterplan, promising hundreds of new homes and vital community infrastructure. This development underscores ongoing efforts to revitalise Elephant and Castle, blending residential growth with enhanced public services amid rising local demands.

What Has Been Approved in the Final Phase?

The sanctioned designs feature three new structures designed by architecture firm Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) for developer HUB, delivering 695 co-living and social housing units alongside community facilities. Central to the scheme is ‘Chords’, the first co-living facility tailored for Elephant and Castle, which introduces innovative living options for the area. Additionally, 20 three-bedroom residences are designated for social rent, contributing to affordable housing provisions despite some criticism over proportions in broader plans.

A new NHS health centre will occupy lower floors of one building, fulfilling long-standing needs as the neighbourhood’s population expands. Landscape architecture firm Gillespies has crafted public spaces to boost accessibility and connectivity, reinstating pedestrian routes and fostering community links. Developer HUB now plans a competitive tender to appoint a contractor, with managing director Damien Sharkey stating,

“As our largest co-living-led approval to date, we’re excited to be moving forward with this important site – not only for the Elephant Park neighbourhood, but for the wider co-living sector.”

Who Are the Key Developers and Designers Involved?

Get Living leads the overarching £1.5 billion masterplan, with the West Site forming the third and final phase, available from 2028. HUB brings forward the 1.2-acre ‘Chords’ project, valued at £400 million, as reported across multiple outlets. Earlier groundwork by Delancey, approved in 2018, cleared the iconic shopping centre for a £2 billion town centre scheme featuring a 35-storey tower, 175,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, a university college, Northern Line upgrades, and 35% affordable residential units.

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) handles the architectural vision for the final phase, while Allies & Morrison contributed to prior Get Living submissions. Gillespies ensures green, connected public realms. These collaborations reflect a multi-stakeholder approach, with Southwark Council granting permissions despite debates on affordable housing shares.

Why Is This Regeneration Happening Now?

Elephant and Castle’s transformation addresses decades of underuse, starting with the Heygate estate rehousing and early housing projects. The Elephant Park masterplan, over ten years in progress, forms one pillar alongside the town centre redevelopment on the demolished shopping centre site. Get Living’s revised Allies and Morrison designs respond to surging student numbers, up 25% in Southwark over the last decade, adding 452 student bedrooms to 507 rental homes (165 affordable).

Planning approval aligns with broader south London trends, like Re:shape’s unanimous Greenwich nod for Woolwich’s Electric Works – a 1,448-home project with 930 student beds, 425 co-living studios, 93 homes, and 40% affordable housing, led by co-founder Jermaine Browne who noted,

“Electric Works is a milestone not just for Re:shape but for Woolwich… demonstrating that the next era of urban regeneration will be driven by innovation, inclusion and long-term thinking.”

For Elephant and Castle, the final phase tackles healthcare gaps and housing diversity head-on.

How Does This Fit into the Larger Masterplan?

Across Elephant and Castle, 27 projects drive the regeneration, including completed, underway, and pipeline developments beyond Elephant Park and the town centre. The two core elements – Elephant Park and the shopping centre site replacement – anchor this urban renewal. Get Living’s West Site proposals build on this, introducing co-living and student accommodation to match demographic shifts.

The £400 million Chords phase completes a vision started years ago, with demolition of the old centre underway since the 2018 green light. Public realm enhancements by Gillespies ensure seamless integration, prioritising pedestrian flow. This phased approach, as detailed in Placemaking Resource’s coverage, positions Elephant and Castle as a modern, mixed-use hub.

What Are the Housing and Community Benefits?

The final phase delivers 695 units, blending co-living with 20 social rent family homes, pioneering ‘Chords’ for flexible urban living. Affordable elements, though debated, include provisions amid Southwark’s growth pressures. The NHS centre directly serves residents, easing healthcare burdens.

Get Living’s plans add 507 rentals and student beds, targeting young professionals and learners. Broader regeneration echoes Woolwich’s model, weighting affordability towards social rent. These initiatives promise diverse tenure, from purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) to coliving studios, revitalising derelict blocks.

When Will Construction Start and Complete?

HUB will tender for contractors post-approval, with construction timelines tied to pre-commencement conditions. Get Living’s West Site eyes 2028 availability. Nearby Electric Works targets a 2027 start post-Gateway 2. Delancey’s demolition began post-2018 approval. Full masterplan completion spans years, building on over a decade of progress.

What Challenges Were Overcome?

Revised plans navigated affordable housing scrutiny, securing approval despite lower shares in some phases. Southwark’s student surge justified new beds. Unanimous votes, as in Greenwich, signal council support for innovative models. Long-stalled sites, like Woolwich’s 20-year derelict block, mirror Elephant and Castle’s revival.

Who Stands to Benefit Most?

Local residents gain healthcare, housing, and connectivity; students and young workers access co-living and PBSA. The neighbourhood sees economic boosts from retail and jobs, echoing Delancey’s vision. HUB’s Sharkey highlighted sector-wide impacts.