Project outline

Murphy completed a £8m project for Lendlease as part of the overall £2bn regeneration of the Elephant and Castle area, which included all of the public realm works and hard landscaping.

This 28-acre development, one of Europe’s biggest, is central London’s new green heart. It includes 2,500 new homes, 50 new shops, cafés, restaurants, health and leisure facilities, and a brand new park right at the centre of the scheme.

Murphy helped to build an outstanding legacy for many years to come by creating and enhancing public spaces around the development. Work on this scheme was designed to focus heavily on the external environment, creating a largely traffic-free area,communal open spaces, playgrounds, courtyards and a new high street.

Murphy was appointed by Lendlease after realising Murphy’s expertise in delivering high-profile public realm schemes in London’s West End such as St. James’s Market, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus and Whitehall.

Project delivery

The scope of work included creating new public spaces and making public realm improvements. As part of this, Murphy was undertaking drainage upgrades, granite
paving and kerbing, installation of TfL cycle docking stations, construction of new roads, street lighting upgrades and installation of street furniture.

Lendlease operate a ‘Site Exemplar Award Scheme’ for demonstrating excellence in certain areas of work. The Murphy team was awarded 30 badges for outstanding contributions and good working practices relating to safety, three badges for exemplar and outstanding contributions to quality, and one badge for exemplar contribution to the environment.

Key challenges

As the work was located around the development, Murphy worked closely with Lendlease and other contractors to ensure that progress was made smoothly and delivered safely. The team continuously monitored their logistics plan to help ensure this. Murphy were co-located with Lendlease to ensure close collaboration and partnering to its best effect.

Due to the complexity of the programme, Murphy adopted a flexible approach delivery. Handover of sections of the site can be brought forward or delayed and the team adapted quickly by having the right amount of resources, plant and materials. Murphy worked alongside other contractors, taking all steps necessary to manage potential health and safety risks, including holding daily co-ordination/planning meetings.

Key facts
  • Production of traffic management design; supply, installation and maintenance
  • Installation of new surface water drainage system
  • Full depth reconstruction of existing carriageways and footways
  • Installation of new street lighting and street furniture
  • Co-ordination off all statutory utility works
  • Construction of new tree pits
  • Granite kerbing and paving (more than 12,000 m2 installed)
  • Yorkstone paving
  • Carriageway resurfacing and road markings
  • Installation of TfL cycle hire docking station
  • Completion of South Gardens
  • Completion of the iconic Walworth Square

Related projects

Elephant Park project.

Urban Infrastructure at Murphy

The Urban Infrastructure team completes projects that involve hard landscaping, utilities and drainage upgrades, the construction of new roads, the installation of street furniture and other public realm work.

Links