Editing Elephant and Castle (section)

=== 21st century: gentrification ===
[[File:E&Cregeneration.jpg|thumb|322x322px|Demolition of the [[Heygate Estate]], construction of Elephant Central, and the Artworks - May 2014]]

[[File:ElephantPark2.jpg|thumb|322x322px|Elephant Park - former site of the [[Heygate Estate]]]]
In recent times the area has had a reputation for successful ethnic diversity and centrality. The area's proximity to major areas of employment, including Westminster, the [[West End of London|West End]] and the [[City of London|City]], has meant that a certain amount of [[gentrification]] has taken place.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/blighty/2013/09/mapping-gentrification |title=Mapping gentrification |newspaper=The Economist|date=9 September 2013 }}</ref>

From the mid-2000s, the area became the subject to a master-planned redevelopment budgeted at £1.5 billion. A Development Framework was approved by [[London Borough of Southwark|Southwark Council]] in 2004. It covers 170 acres (688,000 m<sup>2</sup>) and envisages restoring the Elephant to the role of major urban hub for inner London that it occupied before [[World War II]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lendlease.com/europe/united-kingdom/projects/elephant-and-castle-regeneration |title=Elephant & Castle regeneration|access-date=23 January 2016}}</ref> There have been moves to protect the last of the architecturally important tenement blocks nearby through the creation of a conservation area covering the [[Pullens buildings]].

A substantial amount of post-[[World War II]] social housing that was claimed to have failed by the Council has been demolished, including the [[Heygate Estate]], replaced with developments consisting of a mix of social and private-sector housing and a 2-acres green space, Elephant Park, part of rebranding the whole development. This portion of the site is being developed by [[Lendlease]]. The site includes what the developers called "one of the largest new parks in Central London in 70 years",<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/council-set-to-sign-off-heygate-plans-34215 |title=Council set to sign off Heygate plans |work=Inside Housing}}</ref> which only became part of the project after protests from local activists to retain as many of the mature trees on the site as possible.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/bf9d750a-cb9f-11e3-8ccf-00144feabdc0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/bf9d750a-cb9f-11e3-8ccf-00144feabdc0 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |title=Hidden forest at the heart of London's Heygate estate regeneration |work=Financial Times|date=2 May 2014 }}</ref> A large water feature and paddling pool, named Elephant Springs, is located in the north eastern quarter of the park.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://londonist.com/london/things-to-do/elephant-springs-water-feature-reopens-for-the-season/ |title=Kids Will Love These Nature-Inspired Play Fountains In Elephant And Castle |work=Londonist|date=7 April 2022 }}</ref>

In 2022, a timber pavilion, called The Tree House, and designed architect studio Bell Phillips, opened. The structure is triangular and is built around a tree. It includes public toilets, a cafe, and a viewing gallery on the roof.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dezeen.com/2022/08/07/bell-phillips-the-tree-house-london-elephant-park/ |title=Bell Phillips creates The Tree House pavilion at London's Elephant Park |work=Dezeen|date=7 August 2022 }}</ref>

Locally, tall, mainly residential buildings have been approved or are under construction since the 148-metre [[Strata SE1]] tower was completed in 2010.  These include:
*[[One The Elephant]] (124m)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/6463 |title=One The Elephant: Lend Lease aims to cash in on Hyde Park effect |work=London SE1}}</ref>
*[[Highpoint (building)|Highpoint]] a residential [[build-to-rent]] building (134m),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/6975 |title=Boris: work starts next year on 44-storey Elephant & Castle tower |work=London SE1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/why-build-to-rent-could-be-a-boon-for-architects |title=Why build-to-rent could be a boon for architects |first=Kate |last=Youde |date=19 May 2016}}</ref> which also includes affordable housing,  Council housing, a café and a theatre space leased to the [[Southwark Playhouse]].
*"Two Fifty One"{{efn|on the site of Eileen House}} Southwark Bridge Road (134m)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/7292 |title=Eileen House: Boris Johnson approves Newington Causeway tower |work=London SE1}}</ref>
*"Elephant Central" (three high-rise buildings on a shared podium).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/area-guides/southwark-borough/elephant-and-castle/living-in-elephant-castle-area-guide-to-homes-schools-and-transport-links-a135826.html |title=Living in Elephant and Castle:area guide to homes, schools and transport links |work=Homes & Property|date=10 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/7208 |title=Tribeca Square: work starts on New Kent Road homes, cinema & supermarket |work=London SE1}}</ref>

Southwark Council opened the new Castle leisure centre in 2016. This replaced the original Castle centre, which closed in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200229/investing_in_leisure/1793/the_castle_leisure_centre |title=The Castle leisure centre |work=southwark.gov.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/8746 |title=Castle leisure centre to open on Saturday 30 April |work=southwark.gov.uk}}</ref>

In 2015, the new owners of the shopping centre, Delancey, announced redevelopment plans for a new "town centre", which is due to be completed by the mid-2020s. The project is in two phases. The first aims to replace the existing shopping centre and the Coronet Theatre, and comprise:
*a new campus building for the nearby [[London College of Communication]] (LCC){{efn|replacing the [[Coronet Cinema|Coronet Theatre]]}}
*a cinema{{efn|originally planned for the "Elephant Central" development}}
*retail units and housing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/8375 |title=New Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre redevelopment plans on show |work=London SE1}}</ref>
*a new underground station entrance, though funding is currently uncertain.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/10550 |title=TfL: Elephant & Castle tube station revamp at risk |work=London SE1|date=19 May 2021 }}</ref>
Once the first phase is completed, the current site of the LCC is to be redeveloped to host residential towers and a live-music venue.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://elephantandcastletowncentre.co.uk/looking-to-the-future/ |title=E&C Town Centre: Looking to the future |work=elephantandcastletowncentre.co.uk}}</ref>

In February 2014, a small shipper-container precinct on three levels, inspired by the [[Boxpark]] concept, was put together at the corner of the Walworth Road and Elephant Road. Baptised The Artworks, the venue hosted small start-up businesses and a library.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/7456 |title=£1.2m library to open in Elephant & Castle shipping containers |work=London SE1}}</ref> The project was closed and demolished in 2019.

London's [[Latin Americans in the United Kingdom|Latin American]] population, prominent from this zone to [[Stockwell]], has been an inspiration to aspects of the regeneration. Plans are being made for shops and artwork to emphasise a Latin American corridor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/4503 |title=Lib Dems promise 'Latin American corridor' from Elephant to Stockwell |date=21 April 2009 |work=London-se1.co.uk |access-date=6 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/3846 |title=Latin Americans must take full part in Elephant & Castle regeneration says London Assembly chair |work=London-se1.co.uk |date=21 April 2009 |access-date=6 December 2012}}</ref>

In December 2018, it was announced that London Mayor [[Sadiq Khan]] had approved redevelopment plans, and that Southwark Council had too, after changes to proposals to ensure more windows in the shopping centre, 350 out of 1000 homes for rent at "genuinely affordable levels" and for traders in the current centre with rents capped for 15 years.<ref>E Hopkirk, 'Mayor approves huge Elephant & Castle redevelopment' ([https://www.building.co.uk/news/mayor-approves-huge-elephant-and-castle-redevelopment/5096997.article 11 December 2018]) Building.co.uk</ref> A judicial review of the decision was finally lost by campaigners in May 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/10556 |title=Elephant & Castle housing: campaigners lose appeal court fight |date=29 May 2021 |work=London-se1.co.uk |access-date=8 June 2021}}</ref>

In January 2020, a closure date was set for the centre of 30 July 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/10081 |title=Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre to close after 55 years |date=17 January 2020 |work=London-se1.co.uk}}</ref> The closure date was postponed to 24 September 2020 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/10264 |title=Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre: closure date postponed |date=12 May 2020 |work=London-se1.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='We're going to miss the community': Elephant and Castle shopping centre closes after 55 years |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/sep/24/were-going-to-miss-the-community-elephant-and-castle-shopping-centre-closes-after-55-years |access-date=28 September 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=24 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref> and the centre will be redeveloped. Demolition of the shopping centre, Hannibal House and the Coronet theatre started in January 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2021/02/in-photos-demolition-starts-on-the-elephant-and-castle-shopping-centre/ |title=In photos: Demolition starts on the Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre |date=23 February 2021 |work=Brixton Buzz}}</ref>

In November 2023, Elephant Park was the winner of the Public Space - Building Beauty Award, handed out by the [[Royal Fine Art Commission Trust]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://buildingbeautyawards.com/winners-2023/ |title=Winners 2023 - Building Beauty Awards |date=10 November 2023 |work=Building Beauty Awards}}</ref>