CompeteFor

Croydon Council have approved Westfield and Hammerson’s £1bn town centre regeneration project.

The plan will see the existing Whitgift Centre replaced by 1.4 million sq ft of shopping space, leisure facilities and between 400 and 600 new homes creating up to 5,000 jobs

The landmark scheme was approved by the council’s Strategic Planning Commitee.

John Burton, Westfield’s director of development, said: “This is a significant step forward in our plans for the redevelopment of Croydon’s retail town centre and importantly creates 5,000 new jobs.

“We believe that our proposed £1bn investment into the transformation of Croydon’s leisure and shopping offer has the potential to act as a major catalyst for the wider physical and social regeneration of the town.”

The plan will now be subject to approval from the Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Communities Secretary Eric Pickles.

The aim is for the scheme to be completed by Christmas 2017.