Elephant & Castle gets a lick of paint
One The Elephant is the new development at the heart of the area’s regeneration, promising affordable living in Zone 1
One The Elephant is the latest big tower on the London skyline. When complete, the 37-storey building, which is designed by award winning architects Squire and Partners, will offer 254 new homes, from studios through to three-bedroom apartments.
With prices starting at £310,000 for a one-bedroom flat, the development offers a unique opportunity to live in zone one but without the premium usually associated with living centrally. “It is a brilliant chance for buyers, particularly young professionals looking to get a foot on the property ladder without the bank of mum and dad, to achieve Zone 1 living on a Zone 2 or 3 budget,” says Lend Lease’s project director for Elephant & Castle, Pascal Mittermaier.
Like most new luxury developments, many of the apartments will come with private terraces or balconies designed to provide a extension of the living area and offer spectacular views of London. “Residents will enjoy commanding views over the London skyline with many properties offering views of the Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral and Canary Wharf,” Mittermaier reveals. “The apartment layouts will include open plan kitchens,” he adds “and living areas with floor to ceiling windows to take advantage of the views and allow for floods of natural light and ventilation.”
Interiors are simple and the layout has been created to maximise space and light while minimising clutter. High quality finishes and fittings will feature throughout, along with wood floors and stone worktops.
A concern to reduce energy consumption is at the heart of One The Elephant. “The homes will be among the most sustainable in London. Whole house ventilation has been incorporated to provide pure air, and paint and materials have been chosen for their low toxin levels,” says Mittermaier. Each apartment has been fitted with built-in energy efficient technologies and materials making them 30 per cent more energy and water efficient than your average new build apartment. The building itself has been designed to look modern and architecturally striking, while using the latest sustainable construction methods and materials.
The development is perfectly located for work, as the area has an underground station on both the Bakerloo and Northern Line, as well as an National Rail station offering easy access to Blackfriars and St Pancras International. For play, residents have South Bank less than a mile away, which houses cultural attractions like the Royal Festival Hall and the National Theatre.
The launch of One The Elephant comes in the wake of Boris Johnson approving plans for a £1.6bn transformation of the Heygate Estate in a bid to unlock the area’s economic potential while also creating thousands of new homes. It’s a move that’s long overdue. Once seen as a vibrant spot, Elephant & Castle has become overwhelmed by traffic and poor quality housing.
The wider regeneration effort is set to go a long way in transforming the area into a flourishing urban quarter. “High quality independent retailers are increasingly migrating to Elephant & Castle to escape increasing rents in the City and West End and we expect this trend to continue, further adding to the appeal of this fantastic location.”
For more information visit onetheelephant.com.