The Croydon Partnership, the joint venture between Westfield and Hammerson, has received a planning consent from the London Borough of Croydon for its upgraded plans for the €1.56bn (£1.4 bn) redevelopment of the Whitgift Centre.
The consent represents a significant step forward for the Partnership’s plans to regenerate Croydon’s retail town centre and create one of the UK’s top 10 shopping and entertainment destinations by delivering over 1.5 m ft² of retail and leisure floor space. The project will create up to 7,000 new jobs and continue to stimulate the ongoing wider regeneration of the town.
The masterplan maintains the design principles of the original 2014 consented scheme, with the enhanced plans including the addition of a third level of retail and restaurants, the incorporation of the Green Park House office site, which was acquired by the Croydon Partnership in February 2016; allows for better integration with West Croydon, improved public realm on Poplar Walk, as well as the delivery of a brand new flagship Marks & Spencer store. The plans also include a new covered 24/7 public walkway, the East-West Galleria, that will improve connectivity within the town centre and enhance safety and security on the site. The newly approved plans include an increased housing provision of up to nearly 1,000 new homes adjoining the redeveloped centre, including a higher percentage of affordable housing.
The partnership is now working towards the earliest commencement of full construction on site in 2019, allowing the Whitgift Centre to continue trading through the important 2018 Christmas period. The decision paves the way for the Partnership to prepare detailed designs for the scheme, to conclude the CPO and the land assembly process and finalise legal agreements with prospective anchor retailers including M&S.
The plans to redevelop the Whitgift Centre are at the heart of the wider regeneration of Croydon, with €5.8bn (£5.25bn) of planned major investments seen in the form of new office and residential developments, as well as the Council’s town centre infrastructure improvement programme; all helping to attract new residents, businesses and visitors to the town centre.
The new plans increase the number of homes to be provided, with between 626 and 967 new homes being targeted. Following detailed discussions with both the Council and the GLA, it has been agreed that the proportion of affordable housing will be increased from 15% to a minimum of 20%. This means the delivery of between 125 and 193 affordable homes compared to between 60 and 120 for the previously consented scheme. The new homes will be delivered in four or five residential buildings overlooking Wellesley Road. It is anticipated that the first buildings will be developed with the construction of the retail scheme, with the remainder being developed in phases thereafter.
The development will contribute over €33.4m (£30m) to the provision of local infrastructure via the Community Infrastructure levy, together with around €8.3m (£7.5m) for scheme specific measures including €2.79m (£2.5m) to support employment and training initiatives to assist with providing jobs for local people.
John Burton, OBE Westfield UK/Europe’s Head of Development, said: “The approval of the €1.56bn (£1.4bn) plans to redevelop the Whitgift Centre represents a significant milestone for the project and for Croydon. Retail-regeneration projects have a proven track record to deliver transformation and regeneration which is evidenced by the €5.85bn (£5.25bn) of inward investment planned for Croydon. The positive response from London Borough of Croydon provides confidence to retailers, investors and the community, enabling the Croydon Partnership to create South London’s best retail, dining and leisure destination and deliver new homes and 7,000 jobs.”
Peter Cole, Hammerson’s Chief Investment Officer, said: “Our goal remains to deliver a world-class retail and leisure destination to attract new visitors to Croydon and enhance economic growth in the town. We are pleased with the level of retail demand which has driven the evolution of the design and layout of the new scheme, and we look forward to progressing our plans and transforming Croydon into one of the UK’s top 10 retail and leisure destinations.”
