Elephant’s new leisure centre to be called 'The Castle'

"We are really pleased to be able to finally put a name to this fantastic new facility," said Cllr Veronica Ward, cabinet member for culture, leisure, sport and volunteering.

"The Castle will be a great addition to the Elephant & Castle area for all residents.

"Our leisure centres around the borough play an important role in helping Southwark residents of all ages keep active and get involved in something new.

"From swimming with the family to training for a sporting event, it will absolutely be a place for the whole community."

Last year the council launched an online poll to allow residents to choose a name for the new centre from a list of options, or make their own suggestions.

That poll closed on Friday and the final decision – made by a panel made up of council leader Cllr Peter John, regeneration cabinet member Cllr Fiona Colley and Cllr Veronica Ward – has now made the final choice.

The old leisure centre closed in June 2012 to make way for two new buildings, including the One The Elephant residential tower developed by Lend Lease on the eastern part of the site.

The new leisure centre on the western half of the land will provide a six-lane 25-metre swimming pool, learner pool, a sports hall, gym and indoor cycle studio, two exercise class and dance studios plus a creche and cafe.

Information obtained from the Land Registry by Elephant & Castle regeneration campaigners shows that the council received just £6 million when it sold a 1.4 acre portion of the old leisure centre site to Lend Lease.

The documents also reveal that 10 of the new flats at One The Elephant were sold before the land sale had been processed.

Of the 10 new owners recorded at the Land Registry, six come from overseas – four from Singapore, one from British Virgin Islands and one from Hong Kong – and the remaining four flats were bought by UK-based property investment companies.