Croydon used to be considered drab, but it appears that only Ken Livingstone thinks so now.

With accolades for its regeneration, the town centre will be transformed in the next 20 years in line with its city ambitions.

This strategy went under the national microscope in July when the town hosted a town planning summit.

Here the Croydon Guardian presents an overview of the plans. Examinations of the plans in detail will be added to the site on a weekly basis.

Croydon's town centre regeneration has already won plaudits and is being held up as an example to others.

The council's blueprint for the next 20 years of development, Vision 2020, sums up the way ahead and will give the town more shopping space than Bluewater.

These proposals, some of which have reached fruition, were shown off to town planning experts from around the country on July 4, when Croydon hosted a summit as reward for winning a top award in February.

Gaining 'beacon' status is the equivalent of winning the Oscars and Croydon did it twice, one 'gong' for its town centre regeneration and another for local health strategies.

Croydon was the only London borough to win beacon status for town centre regeneration.

Councillor Malyan says: "Transforming a tired 60s icon into a thrusting, confident 21st century European city, takes a lot of vision.

"It wasn't long ago that the name of Croydon was synonymous with the negative images of town centre planning at its worst. "Uninspiring tower blocks, traffic-filled canyons, nothing to retain the interest of shoppers and office workers after dark.

"The council was the catalyst for changing Croydon into a place that merits the distinction of becoming London's third city."