Elephant & Castle southern roundabout design to be agreed 'in Spring 09'

In January 2006 Southwark Council claimed that work to replace the pedestrian underpasses with surface crossings at the junction of Walworth Road and Newington Butts at Elephant & Castle would begin in June of that year.

Nearly three years on the scheme is still the subject of wrangling between the council and Transport for London.

Now the Mayor of London has told the London Assembly that a new design for the junction should be agreed in spring 2009 after Lib Dem London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon asked Boris Johnson for a progress report.

"Design and modelling work is still taking place," says Boris Johnson.

"TfL is working with Southwark to achieve the optimum design for Elephant & Castle, to maximise the achievement of the desired objectives whilst not unduly impacting upon traffic conditions on this important part of London's strategic road network.

"The proposal for the southern roundabout is now being reviewed to take account of the options produced for the wider development of Elephant & Castle to ensure all improvements in the area are integrated. I anticipate that agreement over design of the southern roundabout scheme will be achieved in Spring 09."

Southwark Council's preferred design for a signalled T-junction, drawn up by Space Syntax, is currently featured in two exhibitions at the New London Architecture gallery in Store Street. An image of the scheme is shown in the Cyclised Cities display whilst there are several screens of information about pedestrian and traffic flows in the adjacent Digital Cities exhibition.

It is thought that Transport for London favours retention of the roundabout layout with traffic lights and pedestrian crossings added.