Concerns were mounting this week over the future of the £1.5bn regeneration of Elephant & Castle after one of the area’s largest tenants began a £2m refurbishment.
Irish-born multi-millionaire Patrick Duffy, owner of the 90,000 sq ft Palace Superbowl alley and bingo hall, said there was “no chance” the south London shopping centre would be replaced by 2015, and he was therefore pushing on with an ambitious refurbishment.
Southwark council plans to demolish the shopping centre and relocate its tenants in 2010, but Duffy claims tenants have seen no progress on the scheme.
“Businesses cannot afford to sit like Miss Havishams,” he said. “The regeneration people at Southwark treat us tenants like mushrooms.”
But Southwark said its 6.5m sq ft proposal remained on course. “The council has stated consistently the shopping centre will be demolished in 2010,” said a spokesman. “All our forecasts show this is still 100% correct.”
St Modwen, which owns the shopping centre, is trying to renegotiate leases to secure vacant possession by 2010, but one tenant said: “It is difficult for St Modwen to proceed if there is no certainty.”
Last week, Chris Horn, development director at Elephant & Castle, said vital enabling works for the removal of subways had been delayed from September until next year.
The three consortia vying to develop the scheme — Lend Lease, Oceancrest and St Modwen — are also still awaiting development briefs that were due in January.
St Modwen development surveyor Gary Morris said: “The scheme will happen, but we are a little bit frustrated that we have not yet received the brief.”
Horn said: “We are delighted the bidders are twitching with energetic excitement and anticipation. They won’t have to wait much longer.”
