Lendlease has launched the next phase of leasing at London's Elephant Park development, specifically targeting local independent businesses.

A host of food and beverage, leisure and retail units will form part of Phase Two across two distinct areas - Ash Avenue and New Kent Road.

Along with the local independent firms, Lendlease is also looking for London-based operators with a footprint in the capital who would potentially add to the character of Elephant Park. This follows the approach taken in Phase One of the project, which sees established brands open alongside independent outfits.

Guy Thomas, Head of Retail at Lendlease, commented: "Elephant Park will be a thriving community in central London; a place where people want to live, build futures, work and visit; and one that has a sustainable long-term future because it reflects, and adds, to the Elephant and Castle community and Southwark more widely. The retail, F&B and leisure offer of Phase Two will play a key role in fulfilling this by delivering a balanced mix of independent operators from the local area and brands with a wider footprint in London.

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"Working closely with Southwark Borough Council, we are ensuring the space is affordable, and therefore accessible, to local businesses, whilst also engaging with established operators from outside Southwark that fit with Elephant Park."

Lendlease Retail will host an open day at Elephant Park on 10 July, during which interested operators can meet the team, find out more about the development, and discuss their concepts. 

The firm has been working in partnership with Southwark Council to deliver a £2.3 billion regeneration project in Elephant & Castle since 2010. The project is breathing new life into an important part of central London, building on Elephant & Castle's heritage to create thousands of high quality new homes, jobs, business opportunities and green space for Londoners.

The regeneration is across three sites: Elephant Park, Trafalgar Place and One The Elephant. Lendlease has already completed the first phase of Elephant Park – South Gardens – as well as two earlier phases, Trafalgar Place and One The Elephant. There are a further four phases to be completed across Elephant Park, with a final completion date of 2025. By the end of 2019, Elephant Park will already be a community of 14 mostly independent retailers providing fresh produce, casual dining, coffee, convenience and services, with more to be announced.