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News

Sustainable Development at the Elephant

26 April 2007

Image showing the planned underground services corridor

Southwark Council has shortlisted three companies who are bidding for the utilities contract for one of the most forward-thinking regeneration schemes in Europe.

On April 24, the council's executive chose the final three partners who are competing to provide heat, power, water and broadband services to the £1.5billion regeneration of the Elephant and Castle. The shortlisted companies are Dalkia, The London ESCo, and Thameswey Energy.

The winning bidder will be selected to manage the Multi Utility Services Company (MUSCo) - a revolutionary approach to providing a raft of services. It is at the forefront of sustainable development in the UK by ensuring that there is no increase in carbon emissions, despite almost tripling the number of homes and businesses in the area.

Southwark's approach to supplying combined heat and power will be a first for London by co-ordinating all services, including utilities, data and high-tech waste collection.

The MUSCo contract is part of the council's committed drive for sustainable development to ensure that the regenerated Elephant and Castle is a clean, green, safe place to live and work.

This focus on sustainability follows the use of legally binding section 106 agreements to ensure new developers incorporate the MUSCo into their plans. Examples include the Multiplex Castle House and Oakmayne New Kent Road sites, along with the recently submitted First Base scheme on the site of the derelict London Park Hotel.

Cllr Richard Thomas, Southwark Council's executive member for regeneration, said: "We cannot underestimate the importance of the MUSCo contract because sustainability must be a key component of scheme, helping to keep the resulting development carbon neutral.

"At the Elephant and Castle there is a great opportunity to set the standard for very high quality, environmentally-sound services, and I am pleased that we are now moving nearer to selecting a company.

"Sustainability is a big issue and on a lot of people's agendas. But we are not just talking about it here in Southwark, we are taking major steps which will have a real impact on the way people live. Regeneration means creating living spaces that will last for generations, so it is vital that projects take very good care of the environment."

Ends...

Further notes

1. London Mayor Ken Livingstone recently praised the Elephant and Castle project as a great example of green development.

2. A wind turbine scheme is currently being piloted at the southern roundabout site. A larger scale wind turbine trial will also take place on Heygate estate. This will allow developers to use real data for wind generation in the area when they plan the deployment of renewables on their buildings.

3. The Broadband Stakeholder Group has recently highlighted the capital's urgent need for a communications structure in a report.

4. The south east of England is increasingly subject to drought, so the non-potable water system planned for the Elephant and Castle aims to reduce the consumption of drinking water.