Wallace Whittle Completes 15-Year Engineering Project at Elephant Park in Central London
Wallace Whittle, a leading MEP engineering consultancy, has announced the completion of the final phase of Elephant Park, concluding a 15-year transformation of a central London neighbourhood. The consultancy has been part of the masterplan team since 2011, collaborating with Lendlease and MAKE Architects to develop Elephant Park into a sustainable and vibrant urban community.
Over the course of the project, Wallace Whittle contributed engineering expertise that facilitated the delivery of more than 3,000 homes alongside extensive community and commercial spaces. Craig Robertson, business development director for England at Wallace Whittle and a team member since the project’s inception, highlighted the rarity of such long-term involvement. He stated: “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.”
The consultancy’s role spanned seven major phases and multiple sub-phases, delivering a cohesive engineering framework across a variety of building types, from technically complex high-rises to low-rise mansion blocks. Key milestones included Trafalgar Place, an early phase that received a Stirling Prize nomination, and One The Elephant, a 37-storey tower that significantly altered the local skyline. The MP Phases—comprising South Gardens, West Grove, East Grove, and Plot H7—were engineered within budgets ranging from £90 million to £150 million.
Throughout the project, Wallace Whittle maintained a robust engineering strategy despite evolving building regulations, sustainability standards, and fire safety requirements. The team actively promoted Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and achieved significant reductions in thermal distribution losses across the system. Early phases featured exemplary townhouses constructed to stringent Passivhaus standards. A notable aspect of the development is its integration with a net zero carbon-capable energy network, supported by an award-winning on-site energy centre.
Craig Robertson reflected on the final residential phase, The Wilderly, which includes a standalone 25-storey tower and a mid-rise block comprising 259 residential units. He said: “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 for Lendlease, commented: “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 settle into The Wilderly, Wallace Whittle is applying the extensive engineering insights gained from Elephant Park to upcoming major developments across London.
