Vital planning applications for two multi-million pound regeneration projects in Southwark, London have now been approved.

Southwark's planning committee have approved both the Elephant and Castle and the Aylesbury schemes.

A cinema, shopping and market place will be built on New Kent Road, as well as new homes and a resource centre on the Aylesbury site.

The £1.5bn Elephant and Castle scheme will provide a high quality market square, restaurant, shops and a cinema along with more than 300 residential units.

The approved scheme had been adapted from an earlier plan, and the new design provides greater ground floor space for local businesses. The buildings will also link in with work already underway to ensure all development in the entire area is connected to sustainable energy supplies.

Similarly, the redevelopment of the Aylesbury - one of the biggest housing estates in Europe – has received a major boost with the first site receiving full planning permission.

A striking scheme of 52 new homes for Aylesbury residents, along with a state-of-the-art resource centre, was given the go-ahead.

Current residents have been involved in the designs to ensure they get spacious homes. The resource centre will provide facilities for people with sensory, neurological and physical disabilities, along with health and therapy services, adult education, employment support, and IT.

Building is expected to start on-site in Autumn 2008.