Southwark council commits further £7.5m to Tube development at Elephant and Castle

Southwark council has agreed an additional £7.5million to its existing significant contribution for a new entrance and ticket hall to the Northern line underground station to be delivered as part of the shopping centre redevelopment at Elephant and Castle.

This additional funding will allow for a fully-integrated step-free interchange at Elephant and Castle between the Northern and Bakerloo lines, once the extension and upgrade of the Bakerloo line has been delivered.

This would including escalator access, a long-term aspiration of the council and residents who currently have to navigate a warren of underground passageways to change underground lines.

As well as ensuring improved access to the Northern line, this is the first piece of infrastructure for the Bakerloo line extension and will reduce the impact of its construction on residents and remove the threat of further direct demolition and redevelopment at Elephant and Castle.

Cllr Johnson Situ, cabinet member for growth, development and planning, said: “The delivery of an integrated public transport exchange has been at the heart of the council’s vision for the regeneration of Elephant and Castle since it adopted the original planning documents in 2004.

“The decision to provide half the costs for this early infrastructure will help support the case for the overall Bakerloo line extension project, strengthening Transport for London’s (TfL) case for capital funding.

“It will also help strengthen the Elephant and Castle and Old Kent Road areas as office and work place locations to generate further investment in the area.”

The council has been campaigning for the Bakerloo Line Extension for several years. Its joint Back the Bakerloo campaign with Lewisham council has so far been backed by more than 20,000 people.

For more information or to sign up to the campaign click here.