Lend Lease scheme of 235 homes set to be 鈥渁mong the most sustainable in Britain鈥

Phase one of Heygate Estate regeneration

Phase one of Heygate Estate regeneration

Developer Lend Lease has been given planning for the first phase of the Elephant & Castle鈥檚 Heygate Estate regeneration in south London.

The 235-home scheme, designed by architect de Rijke Marsh Morgan (dRMM), was approved by Southwark Council and will be 鈥渁mong the most sustainable in Britain,鈥 it is claimed.

The homes, to be built on a 1.14ha site next to the existing Heygate Estate, will be in eight main residential buildings of differing heights, and will all reach level four of the Code for Sustainable Homes.

They will vary in size from studios to four-bedroom homes, will be 25% affordable and will be set within a variety of landscaped habitat areas including a 鈥渨oodland walk; a rain pool and wetland feature鈥nd a garden square and al fresco caf茅 space for residents and the wider community to enjoy鈥, Lend Lease said.

Lend Lease managing director of UK residential development, Mark Dickinson, said this would create a 鈥渉ealthy and thriving urban quarter鈥.

鈥淒uring a wide-ranging and thorough consultation, we鈥檝e worked closely with the community and listened to their feedback,鈥 he said.

鈥淭his feedback has helped shape the final development and influenced many improvements to the scheme, such as a reduction in density, the introduction of more family-sized homes, additional landscaping works to transform Victory Place, a reduction in car parking and the retention of as many existing mature trees as possible.鈥

Cllr Fiona Colley, the council鈥檚 cabinet member for regeneration, said: 鈥淟ast month we saw the Heygate masterplan given the go-ahead which was a major milestone. 鈥淭his week鈥檚 decision is just as important as it means we, with our development partners, can start to bring those plans to life.

鈥淭he regeneration of Elephant & Castle is a unique and world-beating project that will deliver almost 5,000 new homes in the heart of the capital, 6,000 construction jobs, a brand new leisure centre, major transport and infrastructure improvements as well as a major new park for local residents.鈥

Lend Lease plans to start selling phase one homes in April and start construction later this year with completion expected in 2015.