LATIN QUARTER. OFFICIAL.

Southwark Council has formally committed to recognising Elephant & Castle as a Latin American quarter. The decision follows years of campaigning by Latin Elephant and other community groups, particularly after the shopping centre demolition displaced dozens of Latin American businesses.

The council pledged to work with developers Delancey and Lendlease on a retail strategy to accommodate Latin American traders. Latin Elephant presented plans for a Latin Boulevard along Elephant Road and the Eagles Yard archways.

The Borough Triangle approval also includes a 5,000 sq ft community centre earmarked for the Latin American community. Whether these commitments translate into affordable rents and actual trading spaces remains the question the community is watching.