Get Living, one of the UK’s leading build-to-rent operators and developers, secured planning consent for the final phase of its £1.5bn Elephant and Castle town centre transformation.
Southwark Council’s decision to approve the scheme paves the way for the construction of 507 new rental homes, including 165 affordable and social rent homes, and 452 purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) beds, alleviating pressure on the local housing market.
The inclusion of three mansion blocks alongside the three residential towers responds to the local context of the neighbouring conservation area and provides a softer transition between the Victorian houses and the new Elephant and Castle town centre.
Alongside new homes the updated scheme, known as the West Site, will retain elements of the London College of Communication (LCC) workshop building to create a 20,000 sq ft diverse cultural venue that will provide the local community with space for arts, performance and collaboration. A new public square with shops and restaurant space will be delivered as part of the improved plans and provide a focal point for this phase of the development.
The West Site will sit alongside The Elephant, the second phase of the ongoing transformation which will launch 485 homes this summer and welcome over 30 shops, restaurants and leisure later this year.
Rick de Blaby, Chief Executive of Get Living, said,
“This planning consent represents the final piece of the jigsaw, enabling a regeneration of real and lasting importance – one that everyone can be proud of for generations to come.
“With housing delivery in London at a critically low level and new home completions set to decline sharply from 2028, developments like this bringing forward essential affordable housing alongside open-market rental homes and student accommodation are even more important.”
“Elephant and Castle is renowned for its rich cultural heritage and we are honoured to be preserving this while bringing new energy and innovation to the area.
“2026 is an exciting year for the Elephant, with new residents moving in this summer and retailers opening their doors later this year. None of this would be possible without our strong partnership with Southwark Council and the many other stakeholders that are on this journey with us.”
The revised scheme was submitted in response to policy and regulatory changes. This includes the incorporation of a second staircase to comply with the Building Safety Act and an updated approach to sustainability with the inclusion of an all-electric, low carbon energy system. Construction on the site can commence in 2028 following the relocation of the LCC to its new location at The Elephant.
The first phase of Get Living’s Elephant and Castle development, Elephant Central, launched in 2017. It included 374 homes for rent, 278 student homes and 65,659 sq ft of commercial space, comprising a supermarket, gym and nursery. This phase is over 95% occupied demonstrating the strong demand for rental homes in this central London location.
Its second phase, The Elephant, opens in 2026, and will include 135,000 sq ft of shops, restaurants and leisure space, a brand new university building for the London College of Communication landscaped public realm, 55,000 sq ft of workspace, and 485 new homes for rent, of which 172 will be affordable. The new homes will launch to market in Summer 2026.
