Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre is set to shut today (September 24) after more than 50 years.  

The shopping centre was due to close in July but the date was postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.  

Developer Delancey is set to demolish the centre to make way for nearly 1,000 new homes, a pedestrianised town centre, a new college building for the University of the Arts London, leisure and office space, as well as a new station. 

Of the homes proposed, 116 will be for social rent, charged at around £100 a week for a one-bedroom flat, while 53 will be available for the London Living Rent at about £150 a week. 

Another 161 will be available at up to 80 per cent of market prices. 

The rest will be at market rent – a one-bedroom is expected to cost about £2,000 a month. 

There has been a long-running dispute between campaigners against the plans and the developer. 

Southwark Council and Delancey say that all eligible traders have been relocated or offered new premises. 

But groups such as 35% Campaign and Latin Elephant say more than 40 traders have been left with nowhere to go.  

Activists against the development are holding a protest today at 5pm by the Michael Faraday Memorial near the shopping centre.