London mayor Sadiq Khan has approved plans to allow the demolition of the Elephant and Castle shopping centre and for development firm Delancey to build new retail space.
The area is known as a hub for Latin communities and nightlife, which will not go unaffected by the £2 billion development plan. The planning application details building nearly 1,000 residential properties, with 116 socially rented homes, according to the BBC, as well as retail space, a London College of Communication campus and a new tube station entrance. Eater reports that 40 food businesses will be affected, some of which have been at the centre for more than 20 years.
The planning application says the developer will provide Corsica Studios £125,000 to go towards soundproofing the space, which is located in the railway arches next to the centre. However, the techno club's neighbours, Latin venues Distriandina and La Bodeguita, will be forced to close. Local campaign group Latin Elephant broke down the impact this plan has on Southwark's communities on Twitter.
Journalist and author Dan Hancox called out the Southwark, mayor's office and Night Czar Amy Lamé for valuing "business priorities over cultural imperatives. City-branding over civic life."
Corsica Studios denied suggestions that they collaborated with the development firm to secure the soundproofing funds.
In a statement provided to Resident Advisor, a city hall spokesperson defended the move and emphasised that ousted small business will be given help.
We're committed to ensuring the community in Elephant and Castle benefits from the redevelopment of the shopping centre. As part of our work to protect London's nighttime venues, the
Agent Of Change principle was used to ensure the developers will cover the cost of soundproofing Corsica Studios, mitigating the impact of noise on future residents and safeguarding the venue. Support is being offered to independent traders in the development site to access relocation funding, affordable premises in the new development and a database of available units in the wider area.