Southwark’s Lib Dem/Tory coalition has missed its 1st July deadline to sign a deal with developer Lend Lease for the Elephant and Castle, two years after the council entered an exclusivity agreement with the company in July 2007. The coalition had previously said the deal would be signed by the end of 2007 and then the end of 2008, and today we hear that again another deadline is being missed. The final masterplan for the Elephant regeneration was agreed in February 2004.

The delay has raised fears among Labour councillors that Lend Lease is trying to renegotiate the contract as a result of the credit crunch, with Southwark residents getting a worse deal than originally expected.

Southwark Labour’s spokesman for Regeneration, Cllr Chris Page said:

“It seems that barely a month goes by that the Lib Dem/Tory executive miss another deadline for the Elephant and Castle. But this isn’t something that can just trundle on. A deadline isn’t a deadline if it simply gets pushed back and pushed back; there has to be a point at which the executive says enough is enough.

“People around the Elephant and Castle have been waiting for years to see this regeneration plan put into practice, but again and again the scheme has been hit by delays caused by council dithering before a spade has even been planted in the ground.

“The Lib Dem/Tory Executive which runs the Council has simply run out of steam. The deal is still up in the air but there is still a real lack of leadership from the Executive.  The danger for residents is that local people’s needs are no longer the Council’s top priority.  We are pushing to make sure that local voices are heard in the Town Hall.”

A history of dithering and delays

“The regeneration of Elephant and Castle has been talked about for years, but never before have the plans and proposals reached this advanced stage”

(Former Regeneration Executive Member - Catherine Bowman, February 2004)

“It didn't make sense to force a decision by that date [June 2007]”

(Council Leader - Nick Stanton, March 2007)

“it's paramount that we get on and show people that we're serious about actually delivering” (Nick Stanton, July 2007)

“we are continuing to work through various legal and financial issues to finalise the development agreement for the Elephant” (Executive Member for Regeneration - Paul Noblet, October 2008)

"working very much towards December" (Paul Noblet, November 2008)

“Lend Lease wish to conclude this deal as quickly as practical” (Paul Noblet, December 2008)

“we remain 100% committed to moving the project forward as quickly as possible” (Nick Stanton, March 2009)

“On all sides we want this resolved by 1 July.” (Paul Noblet, April 2009)