Campaigners who say redevelopment plans for the Elephant and Castle shopping centre will destroy the local community have applied for a judicial review of its approval.

The group want to quash developer Delancey’s plan to demolish the centre to make way for a new pedestrianised town centre.

The scheme includes 979 homes, a new college building for the University of the Arts London, leisure and office space and a new station.

But groups including the 35% campaign, Up the Elephant, and Southwark Defend Council Housing say Delancey misled Southwark Council about how much social housing it could build.

Jerry Flynn, from the 35% campaign, said the 330 ‘affordable’ homes and 116 social rent homes in the plans are dependent on the the ‘west side’ of the development, which will not be built for another decade.

“The legal challenge argues that Southwark were misled by shopping centre owner and developer Delancey about the amount of the social rented housing that could be provided,” he said.

“The action is being mounted because while Delancey will be making a £137m projected profit, their scheme will destroy and displace the local community.”

Tanya Murat, from Southwark Defend Council Housing said the scheme was not designed for local people.

“Our campaigning has forced developers Delancey to improve their social cleansing plans for the shopping centre, but the scheme is still designed for a population that Delancey want to attract to the area, rather than for people already here,” she said.

“We want the permission quashed and then we want a development scheme that provides homes and shops that are truly affordable for local people,” she added.

A spokesperson from Distriandina, one of London’s oldest Latin American music and dance venues, said the venue would be forced to close if the development went ahead.

“The relocation options which have been offered to Distriandina will lead to a significant decrease in the size of its business, as well as the potential permanent closure of its music and dance venue, something which would be hugely damaging due to its role as an important cultural institution for London’s Latin American community,” they said.

A spokesperson for Delancey said they were “disappointed” they decision was being challenged, as it would push back start times on the development.

“This will have an impact on existing businesses located in the shopping centre, who were hoping for stability and certainty in order to plan for their future,” they said.

“We remain committed to creating a thriving town centre in Elephant and Castle, and are confident about the significant benefits that the redevelopment would bring to the area, both now and in the future. We will consider our next steps as we await the outcome of the judicial review process.”

A council spokesperson said: “We are aware of the application but as this is now a legal matter for the courts, the council will not be commenting further until the outcome of the proceedings are known.”

The campaign, which successfully crowdfunded £5,000 in three days, are represented by Southwark Law Centre and the Public Interest Law Centre.

A decision on the first stage of the challenge is expected within weeks.