Southwark aims to be top London business district
Published 19 May 2011
The central London borough home to Britain's tallest building; The Shard, has called on other developers to help continue the area’s transformation as it drives forward an ambitious regeneration plan
Over the past decade, a series of high profile developments have firmly put Southwark on the map, culminating in The Shard development which, when complete in 2012, will be the tallest building in the EU.
In a sign of its growing confidence and commitment to regeneration, the council is currently hosting a major public exhibition highlighting an array of schemes which have firmly put the area on the map.
Leader of Southwark Council, Peter John, said: "I know there's enormous interest in Southwark at the moment and we are very keen to build on that momentum. I will welcome with open arms any developer with ambitions to create stunning landmark buildings which boast a mix of uses, especially retail. I love tall buildings, and without doubt The Shard is helping to kick-start a whole swathe of regeneration in the London Bridge quarter which has the potential to ripple down through the borough."
As well as office and retail development, Southwark is also the site of one of the largest residential regeneration projects in the country with the £1.5bn transformation of Elephant and Castle, which also aims to drive more office and retail space into the area in partnership with developer Lend Lease.
At a conference launching the exhibition, Lend Lease Chief Executive Dan Labbad described the project as "the best regeneration opportunity in the world". He added: "We're firmly of the opinion that when take up a project we're in it for the long term, and we want to help create a development at the Elephant and Castle that local people are proud of for generations to come. It's also probably the last major regeneration opportunity in zone one and we're very proud to be part of it."
Councillor Fiona Colley, cabinet member for regeneration, said: "I want Southwark to be among the top boroughs which generates wealth for the nation, and I'm convinced it has the potential to become London's third business district along with the City, Canary Wharf and the West End. I want to ensure our residents take advantage of this through increased job opportunities and affordable housing. Our message is clear; Southwark is very much open for business."
The exhibition, Southwark Reborn, showcases some of the high quality schemes that have been delivered, or approved, in Southwark in recent years with a variety of images, maps and scale models on display. The exhibition will run until 20 May in the atrium at Southwark Council's offices at 160 Tooley Street, SE1 2QH, and is open to the public.
