PRESS RELEASE

23 April 2007

FIRST BASE SUBMITS PLANS FOR ICONIC DEVELOPMENT IN ELEPHANT & CASTLE

 

First Base, the residential-led urban regeneration developer, has announced the submission of planning for a pioneering new scheme in London's regeneration hot spot, Elephant & Castle. The project, located on the site of the derelict Old London Park Hotel, will deliver a ground-breaking development designed by award winning architects, Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners (formerly Richard Rogers Partnership).

The demolition of the derelict London Park Hotel will make way for a 43-storey iconic architectural structure linked to a series of terrace blocks, which will deliver up to 470 new homes for London. Plans also include a new public square with a stunning new home for the Southwark Playhouse, which will provide a fantastic community facility and support a new outreach programme for 26 local schools.

In conjunction with national regeneration agency, English Partnerships, the development will provide a mix of affordable properties, along with more than 150 homes delivered under the London Wide Initiative (LWI) to fast-track more quality affordable key worker homes in Greater London.

In line with all First Base developments, the proposed scheme will take eco living to the highest level, achieving the BREEAM EcoHomes 'Excellent' standard. Environmental initiatives will include connection to the local green energy distribution centre (MUSCO).

Elliot Lipton, Managing Director of First Base comments, "This is a milestone project for First Base which not only exemplifies our commitment to quality, sustainable and affordable housing, but also our vision to bring exceptional architectural design to London's housing market, in particular to the regeneration hub of Elephant & Castle."

Richard Rogers, an advocate of high-density living says the First Base formula - a mix of private, key worker and rented homes mirrors his own blueprint for inner city housing. He comments, "Our brief was to create an elegant building that not just lifts the area but also improves the quality of life for its residents."

Elliot Lipton continues, "When we first took on this site we knew we needed to deliver a design which would not only provide high quality housing, but that would also help to shape and improve the local landscape and the wider community as a whole."

"After extremely progressive discussions with the London Borough of Southwark and positive feedback from the local community we strongly believe the plans we have submitted with English Partnerships will create something really special, a building that can be a symbol of the future prosperity of Elephant & Castle."

For more information and images contact:

For First Base:

Jess Gooch / David Lucas

Tel: 020 7908 6447 / 020 7908 6422

jgooch@lexispr.com / dlucas@lexispr.com

For English Partnerships:

Catherine Snow

Tel: 0207 531 2465

catherinesnow@englishpartnerships.co.uk

Notes to editors

First Base is the residential-led urban regeneration developer that creates stylish homes in great urban spaces.

• It transforms the way that properties are built - using best practice modern construction methods that keep costs low yet quality high, embrace sustainability and ensures value for money.
• It transforms the way that communities are formed - with a mix of tenures, a range of homes, a commitment to high quality management and services that make friends of neighbours.
• And it transforms the way that style meets function - with attractive designs, inside and out, that do more than simply look good.

Designed by renowned architects, built by skilled craftspeople, managed by experts, First Base homes are quality, sustainable properties for purchase or rental.

First Base was included in the 2006 RIBA ---Top 50 Clients--- survey for its innovative approach to quality design, using renowned architects including AHMM, Richard Rogers Partnerships, Glenn Howells and Fletcher Priest for a range of projects across the capital.

First Base is also a founding member of the UK Green Building Council. The non-for-profit organisation is being launched in the spring of 2007 and aims to reduce the environmental impact of buildings by improving the way they are designed, built and maintained.

For further information please visit www.firstbase.com

ENGLISH PARTNERSHIPS

English Partnerships is the government's national regeneration agency delivering high quality, sustainable growth in England. We do this by developing our portfolio of strategic projects and acting as the government's advisor on brownfield land. We also ensure that surplus public sector assets are used to support wider government objectives, especially those contained in the Sustainable Communities Plan. English Partnerships helps create communities where people can afford to live and want to live. Information on projects and programmes can be found at www.englishpartnerships.co.uk

English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation are working with the Department for Communities and Local Government to establish the proposed new national housing and regeneration agency, Communities England.

The London-Wide Initiative pilot scheme was launched to fast-track more affordable homes in Greater London. The scheme will focus on a portfolio of sites, selected as a test-bed for introducing a range of new ideas for the delivery of homes. The pilot scheme will deliver up to 4,500 homes over the next five years of which around 1,500 will be affordable homes for key workers. Three development partners have been selected to work in partnership with English Partnerships to deliver homes through the London-Wide Initiative; First Base, Key London Alliance and a consortium led by Countryside Properties plc.