A major step forward has been achieved at Elephant & Castle Tube Station with the completion of construction on its new underground station entrance and ticket hall, which has now been handed back to TfL. This marks a key milestone in the wider £4 billion transformation of Elephant & Castle.
A major step forward has been achieved at Elephant & Castle Tube Station with the completion of construction on its new underground station entrance and ticket hall, which has now been handed back to TfL. This marks a key milestone in the wider £4 billion transformation of Elephant & Castle.
Southwark Council has invested £70.5 million to make the station bigger, better and step-free, while safeguarding the route for the future Bakerloo Line Upgrade and Extension to Lewisham.
Building the Future of The Elephant
The new station entrance sits at the heart of The Elephant, a £1.5 billion regeneration of the town centre led by Get Living, in partnership with Delancey and Multiplex. Together, they are creating a new mixed-use neighbourhood that will bring:
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485 new homes, including 172 affordable homes
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55 shops, restaurants and bars
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A five-screen cinema
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New office and workspace
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A University of the Arts London campus for over 5,500 students and staff
The new University of the Arts London (London College of Communication) campus opens in 2027, with the station’s new entrance and ticket hall due to connect directly into the heart of this redeveloped town centre.
As part of a further proposed phase, the existing London College of Communication site will be transformed to deliver 507 more homes, a 452-bed student accommodation, and a world-class cultural venue with flexible spaces for art, performance, and community activity.
A Gateway to the Bakerloo Line Extension
The completed station structure known as the station box was handed over to Transport for London (TfL) in June to start tunnelling works that will connect to the Northern Line platforms.
Importantly, the design includes a built-in tunnel entrance to allow a future connection to the Bakerloo Line Extension, ensuring the station is fully future-proofed.
The Bakerloo Line Extension would:
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Extend the line from Elephant & Castle to Lewisham
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Include new stations at Burgess Park and Old Kent Road
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Enable 150,000 additional public transport trips per day
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Boost the UK economy by £1.5 billion per year
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Expand access for communities currently in the bottom third most deprived areas of England
Cllr Kieron Williams, Leader of Southwark Council, said: “The new station will transform the experience of the many thousands of people who use Elephant and Castle every day, with easier, quicker step-free access to transport.
“We’ve invested in the station so it is new, modern and fit-for-purpose, and ready for extra footfall from new homes, including affordable homes, and businesses being created in the area.
“The new station is also a milestone for the Bakerloo line extension, which would transform the lives of Londoners, bring a major boost to our national economy of £1.5bn a year and support 150,000 jobs include jobs across the UK.”
Stuart Harvey, TfL’s Chief Capital Officer, said: “The proposed changes to Elephant and Castle Tube station will make the experience of those using the station significantly better. The new entrance will offer step-free access and increase capacity by over 30 per cent, making it a more pleasant and welcoming experience for all those visiting The Elephant and everyone living in the area. The work will also safeguard the plans for the Bakerloo line extension to Lewisham, a project that would transform communities across south London and boost economic growth throughout the UK as part of the supply chain.”
Rick de Blaby, Chief Executive at Get Living, comments: “With its central London location just south of the river, Elephant and Castle is uniquely positioned with both the City and West End just a few minutes away. The renewed tube station entrance will be a crucial part of delivering the fundamental infrastructure that this growing neighbourhood needs to continue thriving in the future, paving the way for the proposed Bakerloo line extension that would bring huge benefits to Elephant and Castle, London and beyond.
“When The Elephant opens next year it is set to be one of the most connected neighbourhoods in London, and the new station entrance and ticket hall will ensure that the passengers’ Underground experience matches the transformed destination above ground. What’s more, when leaving the new station entrance, visitors will be greeted by the historic Elephant statue which once sat atop the old shopping centre, as well as a whole host of food, retail and leisure experiences to enjoy.”
