Controversial Allies & Morrison proposals to redevelop a famous south London shopping centre with a new scheme that includes a 35-storey tower have finally won planning consent – but only by a one-vote margin.

The scheme to demolish and replace the 1960s Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre was first unveiled three years ago and has been through a number of revisions following local objections.

In January this year members of Southwark council’s planning committee twice deferred the application, latterly so that officers could draw up detailed reasons for the scheme to be refused.

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