HUB has secured approval from the London Borough of Southwark for a 1.2-acre mixed-use scheme in Elephant and Castle that will deliver close to 700 co-living homes.
Designed by architects, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM), the project aims to act as a transformative opportunity for the area, and will also deliver affordable homes for social rent, a major NHS health centre and active ground-floor amenity across three buildings.
The scheme is one of the final parts of the wider Elephant Park regeneration, which has been ongoing for over 10 years across 10 acres.
The 695-home co-living scheme, to be known as ‘Chords’, is Elephant and Castle’s first purpose-built co-living development. The project builds on the neighbourhood’s established residential offering, which has a strong focus on Build-to-Rent.
All residents of the scheme will benefit from landscaped outdoor amenity spaces, including a shared podium courtyard accessible from all buildings with a dedicated children’s play area, as well as two rooftop terraces offering elevated views and communal gathering areas. This is in addition to the established public Elephant Park.
The scheme’s landscape and public realm, which achieves 128% biodiversity net gain, prioritises permeability and introduces active frontages to encourage community use, has been designed by landscape architects, Gillespies. Both Gillespies and AHMM have played key roles in the wider Elephant Park regeneration.
Damien Sharkey, managing director at HUB, said: “As our largest co-living-led approval to date, we’re excited to be moving forward with this important site – not only for the Elephant Park neighbourhood, but for the wider co‑living sector. Securing this consent, for just shy of 700 homes, is meaningful: it sends a clear signal of confidence in innovative, community‑focused rental living. Through Southwark Council’s decision, we can bring forward a significant mixed-use scheme with high‑quality co‑living homes and much‑needed affordable homes for social rent, as well as essential community infrastructure, including a new NHS health centre – all within an exceptionally well‑connected, vibrant neighbourhood. We look forward to working with our partners to progress delivery and bring forward a high-quality final chapter for Elephant Park that builds on the neighbourhood’s proven success.”
The development forms part of the wider 10-acre Elephant Park masterplan, which includes more than 50 retail and leisure units, community spaces and a well‑established weekend food and craft market. It is also within easy reach of UAL London College of Communication and London South Bank University. Elephant and Castle station is a five‑minute walk, offering convenient connections via Thameslink services and the Bakerloo and Northern lines.
