Westfield’s plans for Croydon town centre need 'radical rethink'

It has been more than a decade since promises were made to transform the borough with a huge modern shopping centre, and locals are still waiting while town centre continues to decline.

Much of the area is now managed by the company which was supposed to change the town, but it has been working on a new plan for more than two years. 

Fewer shops, more restaurants and a hotel were announced as possible options in 2019, but locals have been waiting for firm plans since then.

The original planning application has now expired.

And there has still been no update on the future of the project from the Croydon Partnership, the joint venture in charge which combines Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and Hammerson.

Croydon’s new Conservative mayor, Jason Perry, thinks a new use for the old Allders building marks a turning point for the town but others aren’t so sure.

Councillor Sean Fitzsimons thinks a “radical rethink” is needed and huge shopping centre is a thing of the past. 

Cllr Fitzsimons, who has been a Labour councillor in Croydon since 1994, urged caution saying the council should not agree to anything just because it is “desperate”.

He said: “I am told that they are in ongoing discussions with officers.

"It took the council quite a long time to admit that the previous scheme was dead in the water. 

“I am not holding my breath for a new application to come through. I think it needs a more radical rethink.

"I think the days of a shopping centre are long gone and the risk of it being delayed are greater because we’ve got a rescission coming round the corner. 

“The council has to articulate what its vision for the town centre is otherwise we will take anything that is offered to us.

"I think that we shouldn’t grab anything that is going just because we are desperate.” 

Leader of the opposition and former deputy leader of the council Stuart King admits there is more that the Labour administration could have done while in power.

He said: “With hindsight we should have been more robust with the partnership about having a stronger sense of urgency from them about a development coming forward for our town centre.

"It is essential they come forward with something sooner rather than later.”

Councillor King agrees with Cllr Fitzsimons that a shopping centre is not the way forward anymore.

He said: “I very much doubt a big shopping centre development is going to come forward when we finally see what Westfield want to being to our borough.

"With so many people buying clothes online rather than in person that sort of scheme doesn’t seem likely.

“I don’t think we should be focussed on something that is years down the line we should be focused on reviving our town centre new.

"Part of that is a real focus on the night time economy from Box Park to Bagatti’s.”

But cabinet member for planning and regeneration, Councillor Jeet Bains, said a commitment to improving the town centre is “not just talk” from the council’s new Conservative leadership.

He said he hopes the opening of LOST, an immersive theatre pop-up from the creator of Secret Cinema, will bring entice more businesses the town centre.

It is set to open in September in the old Allders building which has been empty since businesses in the Croydon Village Outlet were kicked out in 2019. 

Cllr Bains said: “As the council we have a power to influence and can facilitate making it easier for them to do business, we can basically create an environment where there are less obstacles in place. We are keen to get cracking on all of this.

"In general, all sides are looking for something to happen at pace. At the moment the town centre is very unattractive.”

Chair of the council’s Scrutiny Streets, Environment & Homes Committee Councillor Leila Ben-Hassel wants to see a new group set up focussed on the town centre.

This is something that was approved back in 2021 but never got off the ground. 

She said: “I believe in community led decisions.

"After the pandemic I think we have different challenges and we need a high street that will cater for a wide range of uses. 

“Ideally we want that task and finish group to go alongside what the mayor is doing.

"We want a vision that is community-led with residents and businesses and to make sure there are quick wins we can identify as that can help boost the town centre in terms of meanwhile use.”

At a council meeting this week, Croydon Mayor Jason Perry said the town centre has been a shame on the borough.

He told councillors he has been in talks with the companies who hold the key to reviving the town centre. 

He said: “I’ve had conversations with Westfield, Hammerson and the Whitgift Foundation and we are all committed to delivering a regenerated town centre.

"On that basis I am pleased Westfield has already brought forward their plans for the old Allders building which will see the LOST extravaganza come to the town centre. 

“It will reactivate the ground floor of Allders on North End and George Street and will see a much needed flow of pedestrians into Croydon.

"I’m hoping in August we will start to see movement on that and I think this is the first step towards Westfield coming back to life and further engagements that will follow.”

It is understood the Croydon Partnership is still working on its ‘masterplan’ for what to do in Croydon.

It is still not clear when this will be completed or an updated planning application submitted. 

A spokesperson for the Croydon Partnership said: “The Croydon Partnership remains committed to Croydon and is currently working on a new approach for the regeneration of the town centre.

"The recent signing of LOST, a unique concept for London, reinforces the overarching strategy to reposition the area and bring in a dynamic mix of experience-led offers and concepts that the whole community can be part of.

“We look forward to providing more detail about the vision in due course, and in the meantime we will continue to support existing Centrale and Whitgift occupiers and custom.”