Web Document Design and access statement - Southwark Council ...

Existing buildings on site
The redundant swimming pool (which has been closed due to structural
problems for many years) and current leisure centre are both very
introverted buildings with few windows to provide any street animation
or natural surveillance. The external elevations are extremely uniform and
blank and rely solely on signage to advertise the internal building use and
entrance position (which is hard to locate).
Fig. 9: Strata Tower by BFLS
Fig. 10: Elephant and Castle shopping centre - Existing
Fig. 11: St Modwen Shopping centre redevelopment - concept image
Immediate Surroundings
The immediate surroundings of the Site are extremely diverse and mixed.
The former churchyard to the south (now a park) is the only visible public
green space and a well used community meeting point with playgrounds
for different ages, outdoor seating and a small skate boarder community.
The green space stands in stark contrast to the adjacent busy Southern
Junction. The Metropolitan Tabernacle to the north of the Site is the
only pre-war development along Elephant and Castle. Together with the
adjacent London College of Communication it creates a clear boundary
between the commercial character of Elephant and Castle and the
residential areas to the west known as Elliots Row. Opposite the site the
Elephant and Castle shopping centre, which was the first covered shopping
mall in Europe, awaits redevelopment.
Fig. 12: 360 London
by Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners
Adjoining tall buildings
The existing buildings along Elephant and Castle are generally higher than
those on the surrounding side streets though most fall within the mid
rise bracket. However recent developments show a shift towards greater
height.
The recently completed Strata tower on Walworth Road to the south of the
site designed by BFLS (formerly Hamiltons) houses 408 apartments in 43
storeys (147.9m above AOD).
It is flanked by the 25 storey Draper House, a brutalist towerblock from
1965 which was at the time of its completion the highest residential
building in London.
To the south west of the site, planning consent has been obtained for the
‘360’ (also known as the former London Park Hotel) development designed
by Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners, which is to house 470 apartments in
a tower rising to 44 storeys (146.6m above AOD) and some associated mid
rise buildings.
In addition Oakmayne Plaza designed by Tate Hindle to the north east of
the site (which is currently under construction) will consist of three blocks
up to 26 storeys high (87.5m above AOD).
A further planning application for a tall building nearby (Eileen House
designed by Allies and Morrison, a 44 storey high tower (134m above AOD)
to the North of the tube station) is currently awaiting determination by the
Mayor of London.
An outline planning application for the Heygate Masterplan designed by
Make also identifies a number of locations for future high rise buildings.
Fig 13: Oakmayne Plaza by Tate Hindle
Fig 14: Existing and proposed high rise buildings around the site
Background paper: Urban design Revision 1, March 2012
St Mary’s Residential Detailed Planning Application June 2012
7