"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"
- Rick de Blaby - Get Living
Build-to-rent operator Get Living has secured planning consent from Southwark Council for the third and final phase of its £1.5bn Elephant and Castle town centre regeneration, with approval granted on 23rd March.
The West Site will deliver 507 rental homes, 452 purpose-built student accommodation beds, and a 20,000 sq ft cultural venue on land currently occupied by the University of the Arts London's London College of Communication.
What the West Site will deliver
Of the 507 new rental homes, 165 will be classed as affordable or social rent, easing pressure on a local housing market that has faced sustained demand. The approved scheme incorporates three mansion blocks alongside three residential towers, a design response intended to soften the transition between the neighbouring Victorian conservation area and the new town centre.
The cultural venue will be housed within retained elements of the LCC's workshop building, offering space for arts, performance and community collaboration. A new public square, flanked by shops and restaurant units, will serve as the focal point for this phase of the development.
"This planning consent represents the final piece of the jigsaw, enabling a regeneration of real and lasting importance," said Rick de Blaby, chief executive of Get Living. "One that everyone can be proud of for generations to come."
Build-to-rent and affordable housing pressure
De Blaby pointed to the wider context facing the London housing market, noting the urgency of schemes like this one. "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," he said.
The revised plans were submitted in response to several regulatory and policy changes, including:
- A second staircase requirement under the Building Safety Act
- An all-electric, low-carbon energy system replacing the original sustainability approach
- Updated massing to reflect local conservation area guidance
Construction on the West Site cannot begin until 2028, when the London College of Communication relocates to its new home at The Elephant, the scheme's second phase.
A phased transformation taking shape
Get Living's Elephant and Castle regeneration has been a decade-long programme. The first phase, Elephant Central, launched in 2017 and delivered 374 rental homes, 278 student homes and 65,659 sq ft of commercial space, including a supermarket, gym and nursery. The scheme is now over 95% occupied, underlining strong rental demand in this part of central London.
The Elephant, phase two, opens later in 2026 and will bring 485 new homes for rent, of which 172 will be affordable. It will also include 135,000 sq ft of shops, restaurants and leisure space, a new university building for the LCC, 55,000 sq ft of workspace and a landscaped public realm. New homes will come to market this summer.
"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," de Blaby added. "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."
What this means for the wider build-to-rent market
The Elephant and Castle approval arrives at a moment when build-to-rent development in London faces mounting pressure from rising construction costs, tighter planning conditions and a shrinking pipeline of new completions. Schemes that combine open-market rental with affordable housing and student accommodation are increasingly viewed by local authorities as the most viable model for large-scale urban regeneration.
With phase two launching this summer and phase three now consented, Get Living's full Elephant and Castle masterplan, spanning more than 1,800 homes across three phases, is on track to complete in the early 2030s, adding meaningful supply to one of inner London's most undersupplied rental markets.
