Get Living’s Elephant and Castle Town Centre development project has marked a major construction milestone with a ‘bottoming out’ ceremony for the new integrated ticket hall (ITH) at the Elephant and Castle Northern line tube station. The event marks the completion of the deepest point of the new integrated ticket hall, 33 metres below ground level.
At this depth, the soil strata is estimated to be 59 million years old, and provides a unique insight into both the history of London and the complex and innovative engineering work involved in the scheme.
The milestone was marked with speeches from Get Living, Southwark Council, Transport for London (TfL) and Delancey, the appointed development manager. There was also a ceremonial placing of coins, and a time capsule containing letters from the local community was buried.
When it launches in 2026, Elephant and Castle Town Centre is set to be a major new destination in the heart of London. Set against the backdrop of the £4 billion Elephant and Castle Opportunity Area, the current phase will deliver 485 new homes for rent, including 172 affordable homes, shops, restaurants, cultural and leisure space, workspace and a state-of-the-art new campus for UAL’s London College of Communication. Those delivering the project hope that it will transform the public realm with new streets, a public square and extensive landscaping for the whole community.
The development will deliver major infrastructure improvements to public transport, including a new entrance to the Northern Line Underground providing both escalator and lift access. The ITH will serve as the primary entrance to the Northern Line and represents the first piece of substantial infrastructure to support the proposed Bakerloo Line extension, which would connect Elephant and Castle to Lewisham, via Old Kent Road and New Cross Gate.
The new integrated ticket hall has been built and part-funded by Get Living, with Southwark Council and the GLA also joint funding the new station box and tunnel connections. TfL has now included the fitting out and bringing into use of the new Elephant & Castle Northern line entrance and ticket hall within their current business plan and will be seeking funding approval in due course.
Since the main works commenced in 2022, the scheme has supported almost 2,000 full time jobs, along with 33 work experience placements and 17 apprentice starts. Working closely with the community, the project team has supported local groups and initiatives with a £50,000 yearly Inspiring Elephant Community Fund and has set up a free Community Hub and Business Forum.
Elephant and Castle Town Centre sits alongside Get Living’s neighbourhood, Elephant Central, which offers 652 rental and student homes, and Castle Square, which is home to over 25 independent local traders and hosts community events throughout the year.
Cllr Kieron Williams, Leader of Southwark Council, said: “Elephant & Castle is a bustling town centre in the heart of Zone 1, with thousands of visitors every day – it needs a station that can meet that demand and grow in the future. This new ticket hall is crucial, providing residents with easier access to the Northern line and will pave the way for a future extension of the Bakerloo line. I am delighted to see it has come so far and will make our borough even better connected to the rest of the city.”
Ailish Christian-West, Chief Operating Officer at Get Living, said: “The bottoming out at Elephant and Castle Town Centre marks an exciting milestone as we approach the final 24 months of construction. Digging down into London’s history reminds us of the role we play in preserving and shaping London for future generations, creating places that will stand the test of time.
“This is a highly complex project, and it is thanks to ongoing collaboration and a shared vision between the project team and Southwark Council, as well as close engagement with the local community, that we are able to deliver such great progress and mark this pivotal moment.”
Richard Palmer, Development Director at Delancey, said: “Seeing the full excavation for the new the underground station for Elephant and Castle at the same time as seeing the towers rise for the 485 new homes and the new university building over the Bakerloo Line is simply breathtaking and a real testament to the strength of the strong public/private partnership between the key stakeholders in Southwark, TFL, UAL, Get Living as well as the expertise of the Project Team.”
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