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Building guide · Elephant & Castle · updated October 2026

Strata SE1: a guide to Strata Tower

Strata SE1, often called Strata Tower, is the 43-storey building with three wind turbines on top, on Walworth Road at Elephant & Castle.

Here is what is in it, the truth about the turbines, and what to check before you buy, let or rent a flat there.

Book a call →What to check

01 · The building

Strata SE1 in numbers

Strata SE1 stands at 8 Walworth Road, London SE1, a few minutes’ walk from Elephant & Castle station.

It was developed by Brookfield Europe, designed by BFLS (then Hamiltons) and completed in 2010 (Wikipedia).

At about 147 metres, it was London’s tallest residential building when it opened; some sources give 148 metres.

Listings use postcodes including SE1 6EG and SE1 6EE.

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Source: Wikipedia, Strata SE1.

02 · Who owns what

Private flats and affordable homes

Of the 408 flats, about 310 are private and 98 are affordable homes, managed by Peabody as shared ownership.

The building has a sky lobby on the 39th floor, 437 cycle spaces and a secure basement car park.

It runs combined heat and power and rainwater harvesting.

Agents marketing flats in the building also advertise a 24-hour concierge; check current services with the managing agent.

Affordable homes, of 4080Shared ownership through Peabody

03 · The turbines

Do the wind turbines work?

Strata was billed as the world’s first skyscraper with wind turbines built into its structure.

In practice the three turbines ran only occasionally and were switched off after residents complained of noise and vibration.

For tenants and buyers the point is simple: the turbines are a landmark, not a power source.

  1. May 2010 · In force

    Turbines installed

    Three 19 kW turbines at the top of the tower.

  2. 2010 · In force

    Carbuncle Cup

    Named the year’s ugliest new building, alongside sustainability and construction awards.

  3. By 2014 · In force

    Standing still

    Reported as stationary after noise and vibration complaints.

  4. 2022 · In force

    Southwark confirms

    The planning committee chair said they had not worked since, mainly because of the noise complaints.

Sources: Wikipedia, Strata SE1; MyLondon (2022) via Wind-watch.

04 · Location

Where it sits

Strata is on Walworth Road, at the heart of the Elephant & Castle regeneration.

London South Bank University is next to the tube station, and London College of Communication (UAL) is also at Elephant & Castle.

Tube

01 / Elephant & Castle

Northern and Bakerloo lines

The Northern line Bank branch and the southern end of the Bakerloo.

Rail

02 / Elephant & Castle

Thameslink and Southeastern

Including to London Blackfriars.

Study

03 / Universities

LSBU and LCC

London South Bank University and London College of Communication are both here.

Park

04 / Neighbours

Elephant Park

Shops, cafés and a two-acre park to the east.

05 · Due diligence

What to check before you buy or let

Flats in the same tower can differ a lot, so check these for the specific flat rather than for the building.

If you are buying from abroad, read can foreigners buy property in the UK? for stamp duty and tax.

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Tick what you have checked for your flat.

06 · Letting from abroad

Letting a Strata flat from Asia

If you live in Hong Kong, Singapore or Malaysia, your agent must run the Non-Resident Landlord scheme unless you have NRL1 approval.

Since 1 May 2026, new tenancies are periodic and you can take no more than one month’s rent in advance (GOV.UK).

We can give you a current rental valuation and let and manage the flat from SE17, in English, with Cantonese or Malay on request.

Book a call →
01

Week 1

Rental valuation

What similar flats in Strata have let for.

02

Before marketing

Compliance

Gas, electrical, EPC, alarms and any licence.

03

Marketing

Published asking rent

As the law now requires; no bidding wars.

04

Every quarter

NRL scheme

Tax deducted and paid, or rent paid gross once approved.

FAQ · Strata SE1 (Strata Tower)

Questions, answered

What owners, buyers and parents abroad ask us first.

About 147 metres over 43 storeys; some sources give 148 metres.

Not in any useful sense. They ran only occasionally after 2010 and were switched off after noise complaints.

408, of which about 98 are affordable shared-ownership homes managed by Peabody.

The address is 8 Walworth Road, London SE1. Listings use postcodes including SE1 6EG and SE1 6EE.

Brookfield Europe developed it and BFLS (then Hamiltons) designed it. It completed in 2010.

Sources · every fact on this page

Where the facts come from

General information, not tax or legal advice. Rules change, so check the official source or a qualified adviser before you act.

[1]Strata SE1Wikipedia
[2]Why Elephant and Castle’s iconic Strata tower wind turbines barely moveMyLondon via Wind-watch · 2022
[3]Elephant & Castle tube stationWikipedia
[4]Elephant & Castle railway stationWikipedia
[5]Guide to the Renters’ Rights ActGOV.UK
[6]Private rented property licensingSouthwark Council · updated 10 Mar 2026

Cantonese or Malay on request

Own a flat in Strata? Get a current rental valuation.

A short call in English, or in Cantonese or Malay if you ask when you book. Tell us what you own or want to buy, and where you live, and we will tell you plainly what we would do.

01Pick a slot that suits your time zone

02Tell us about the flat or the plan

03We let and manage it, advise you, or introduce a partner we trust

Pick a day that suits

Book twenty minutes →

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