Socio-economic value at the Elephant and Castle

‘Socio-Economic Value at the Elephant and Castle’ is a collaborative research project between Latin Elephant, Loughborough University and the Cities Programme at the London School of Economics and Political Science. The project supplements the existing research conducted by Latin Elephant on the spaces and practices of trade at the Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre, which highlights the role of ethnic minority and migrant transactions. This report expands on the spatial, social and economic value forged by micro-economic and independent retail activity at the Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre and argues for its recognition in the current redevelopment processes. A draft of this report was supplied as additional evidence supporting Latin Elephant’s ‘Objection to Planning Application, Elephant and Castle Town Centre and LCC Campus at the EC (ref: 16/AP/4458)’ in July 2018. Following Southwark Council’s Planning Committee approval of Delancey’s plan to demolish the Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre as part of wider regeneration plans, the application will be analysed by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, for final approval by the Greater London Authority (GLA). This report provides additional evidence to the existing advocacy of Latin Elephant that calls for the GLA to protect the 130 independent, largely BAME traders who are currently within the red line designation for development. The report highlights the need for a wider recognition of the importance of protecting affordable workspace in the context of current regeneration and displacement processes in London.