MARKET TRADER, FEBRUARY 2 - 15, 2018


refusal can be drawn up. The committee is scheduled to meet again on 30 January where they will discuss what the formal decision is and vote again. The final resolution is also dependent on, for example, any extra conditions that could be placed on the application, or any amends the applicant might offer to make before the final vote.” “Cllr Mark Williams, Cabinet


Member for Regeneration and New Homes, said: “We respect the vote of the Planning Committee not to approve the application on Tuesday. We understand the strong feelings of many local people, particularly regarding affordable housing and business space, as these are priorities that the council shares. We remain committed to finding a solution for a new shopping centre and home for UAL’s London College of Communication that works for everyone.” Leaving aside all this what


about the market? Ah well yes, it is covered in the report to the planning committee but to be frank very much as an afterthought and, from an admittedly superficial look at the mountain of document with the planning application, it look as if provision for continuing market trading at the location will be strictly limited. Retail wise the Elephant


currently offers 15,132sqm of floorspace including the railway arches, and the news-


agents on New Kent Road. There are also approximately 35 market stalls and 3 retail kiosks outside the shopping centre. The developers say they accept the temporary loss of retail space during construction but point out the close proximity to shops and services along Walworth Road including East Street Market. Fine but, understandably,


many locals are, as the council speak puts it, unsure about the future affordability of business units which would be provided in the proposed development, and felt that they had received inadequate information about it. Many existing traders especially in the market are concerned about future rent levels or where they were going to continue trading at all. The planning committee


heard that “A business survey undertaken confirms that there is a strong desire among business owners across all ethnic groups to continue operating their businesses following the redevelopment of the shopping centre. The analysis notes that confidence about their ability to return to the new shopping centre is low, and it is likely that the majority of existing businesses on the site would relocate elsewhere.” Market stall holders are


given the meagre promise of a database of relocation opportunities including in the new market square to the


east of the site and in East Street Market. Though there is no guarantee that sites would be available for them. Additionally the developer has set aside a fund for relocation expenses. And that ladies and


gentleman is how it seems to stand at the moment. Following the decision the developers Delancey


issued this comment “The outcome of the committee meeting was disappointing, as our proposals reflected four years of dedicated work and extensive consultation involving two exhibitions attended by over 1,500 people, alongside workshops and public drop-in sessions. During this process over 90% of people who gave up


FEATURE 7


their valuable time to engage with us were in favour. We would therefore encourage the many supporters of our plans to make their voices heard and not let the vocal minority prevent this huge opportunity to improve the transport, education and housing provision for London and the UK generally. If we as supporters fail, a huge


oppor tuni ty sought and actively planned for over the past 25 years, will be lost.” Sadly the ‘re-vote’ meeting


takes place on the day this piece goes to press so we don’t yet know the result, but whatever happens it’ll usher in a period of uncertainty for the stallholders and independents working the area at the moment.


The Elephant as we’ve seen it on the way


2007 The long awaited project to transform the Elephant and Castle took a step forward last week with the announcement that Southwark Council has picked a private sector partner for the ambitious £1.5b regeneration scheme. The council promise that traders who have made their living for decades in the area will be the first to benefit from the revitalised business opportunities. A spokesman said: “The whole shopping experience will be transformed into a new town centre building retail space around the needs of traders already in the neighbourhood. There will be high street shopping, supermarkets and a mix of retailers, more independent traders on a pedestrianised main boulevard, and smaller stalls and shops in a market square.” 2008 Vital planning applications for the long-awaited


Elephant scheme were passed recently. The New Kent Road approval is the latest section of the £1.5billion scheme to get the green light, and means a high quality market square, restaurant, shops and a cinema can be built in the heart of the area, along with more than 300 residential units. Southwark Cllr Richard Thomas said: “The fantastic plans for the heart of the Elephant are particularly good news as it supports this council’s commitment to provide great retail space for local traders. The revised plans that went through last night incorporated more prominent space for businesses, to make sure local shops can benefit from the area’s regeneration. And equally importantly, many will be offered at subsidised rents over the first five years to give further support for traders.”


2011 Elephant Refurb Only? Activists in Southwark


are convinced that the much heralded redevelopment of the Elephant Shopping Centre, home to Urban Space Management’s stall market is now likely to be a refurb rather than the complete rebuilding promised when the area-wide regeneration scheme was announced. Council leader Peter John claimed that Southwark Council remains: “Absolutely committed to see the shopping centre improved at Elephant & Castle. We’ve had some really constructive meetings with Lend Lease and St Modwen in the last few weeks. We are not in a good period for retail development – that’s what all the developers are telling us.” But in a remark seen as significant by the doubters he continued: “We have the potential for something which – to all intents and purposes – is a brand new shopping facility for Elephant & Castle at a much earlier stage than we were looking at just nine months ago.” 2016 A new set of proposals for the Elephant shopping


centre site includes a new campus for the London College of Communication, part of University of Arts London, 1,000 flats, spaces for start-up businesses and a 1,000-seat cinema. These plans emerged three years after the shopping centre building changed hands for £80 million. Developer Delancey’s Jamie Ritblat said: “Our ambition is to create a new and improved town centre for Elephant and Castle, one which complements, celebrates and builds upon the existing diversity and vibrancy that this key Zone 1 location is already so renowned for.” The architects were announced as Allies and Morrison.


M23247


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40