LEADING MEP engineering consultancy, Wallace Whittle is proudly celebrating the completion of the final phase at Elephant Park, marking the culmination of an extraordinary 15-year journey to transform a central London neighbourhood.
Part of the masterplan team since 2011, alongside Lendlease and MAKE Architects, Wallace Whittle has supported the delivery of Elephant Park as a thriving, sustainable urban neighbourhood.
Over the last decade and a half, Wallace Whittle’s engineering expertise has helped deliver more than 3,000 homes and hundreds of thousands of square feet of community and commercial space.
Craig Robertson, business development director for England at Wallace Whittle, who has worked on the project since the beginning, said: “It is incredibly rare for a building services and sustainability consultancy to remain consistently embedded on a single mega-project for 15 years.
“Through industry changes and Wallace Whittle’s own company growth and evolution, our team provided absolute consistency. We set an incredibly high benchmark early on, ensuring the infrastructure could adapt to changing regulations and continue delivering long-term value to the people of Southwark. Seeing this final phase hand over brings immense pride. ”
From technically challenging high-rises to low-rise mansion blocks, Wallace Whittle has provided a consistent, cohesive engineering framework across seven major phases and various sub-phases. Notable milestones include:
Trafalgar Place – a highly acclaimed early phase that earned a prestigious Stirling Prize nomination.
One The Elephant – a striking and highly visible 37-storey tower that redefined the local skyline.
The MP Phases – successive masterplan plots (including South Gardens, West Grove, East Grove, and Plot H7) engineered across budgets ranging from £90M to £150M.
As building regulations, sustainability metrics, and fire safety standards shifted over the project lifespan, Wallace Whittle’s foundational engineering strategy remained rock-solid. The team heavily championed Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), while tracking and drastically reducing thermal distribution losses across the entire system.
Early phases also pushed the envelope by delivering exemplar townhouses, some built to rigorous Passivhaus standards. A standout feature of the development is its cutting-edge integration with a net zero carbon-capable energy network, anchored by a multi-award-winning on-site energy centre.
Speaking about the opening of the final residential phase, The Wilderly – which features a standalone 25-storey tower and a mid-rise block of 259 residential units – Craig added: “During those initial masterplan meetings in 2011, Lendlease’s vision was always about placemaking – creating a real community to live in, not just build houses. Looking at it today, with its own London bus route, artisan shops and vibrant public spaces, we have jointly achieved that. It has a remarkably tranquil vibe for Zone 1 London.”
Nick Watson, project lead at Elephant Park, Lendlease, said: “Completion of The Wilderly marks a significant milestone for Elephant Park, with the final collection of homes now delivered with residents moving in. The neighbourhood has been delivered over more than 15 years and through several market cycles, reflecting the strength of our long-term partnership with the London Borough of Southwark and the shared vision for the area. Together with our partners and the wider project team, we’re proud to have delivered a connected, mixed and resilient part of Elephant and Castle that will continue to mature for years to come.”
As residents move into The Wilderly, Wallace Whittle is already translating the extensive engineering lessons learned at Elephant Park into its next generation of major London developments.