Six developers compete to build Elephant & Castle skyscraper

More than five years have passed since Southwark councillors approved the plans by Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners for the development of 470 new homes on the former London Park Hotel site at Newington Butts, just yards from the Elephant & Castle.

The site – originally acquired by the Government as part of an initiative to develop affordable homes for key workers in London – later passed to the Homes and Communities Agency and subsequently to the Mayor of London.

This week – in response to a question tabled by Lib Dem Caroline Pidgeon AM – the Mayor revealed that six developers have been shortlisted in the Greater London Authority's competition to find a firm to take on the scheme.

"The GLA received seven responses to the pre-qualification questionnaire," said the Mayor, Boris Johnson.

"These were evaluated and a shortlist of six organisations have been sent an invitation to tender. The deadline for bid submissions is 8 March 2013."