Work to start the highly-anticipated £1.4billion Westfield Croydon development has moved a step closer.
This week Croydon Council issued notices to landowners and other affected parties around the proposed site that the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) process was to begin.
This means any bit of land for the development can be purchased and ultimately secures the rights needed for construction of the new development to begin.
Croydon Partnership, the joint venture between Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and Hammerson, which is developing the shopping centre, are to take possession of the site during 2019.
Work to demolish the Whitgift Centre is scheduled to get underway in September 2019 and all being well the shops at Westfield are forecast to open in spring 2023
While the council is leading the CPO process, the Croydon Partnership is funding all fees and purchase costs.
Councillor Tony Newman, leader of Croydon Council, said the news was a major breakthrough for the development.
“This is a big moment for Croydon and a key milestone for this project,” he said. “As the CPO has now been implemented, developers can now start the process of submitting applications for the detailed designs of the centre ahead of starting on site and beginning demolition.
“Work will then commence on constructing a state-of-the-art shopping destination that not only Croydon, but London as well, will be proud of.
“A lot of hard work has been taking place to get to this point and there is still a lot of hard work to go but it’s great to see the Croydon Partnership continuing to commit to the development and I look forward to seeing work start on as site as well as the end result.”
The Croydon Partnership’s plans will provide the borough with a new “flagship destination” which is set to include more than 300 shops, restaurants, cafes and leisure facilities.
The development will also include a multi-screen cinema complex and A minimum of 626 flats will be built, though that figure could rise as high as 967 in up to five tower blocks – 20 per cent of which will be available at rents below market rates.
The first of these homes should be ready for people to move into in 2024.
A brand new John Lewis department store with a Waitrose supermarket and a new Marks & Spencer have already been announced as anchor retailers.
It is anticipated the new development will create 7,000 new jobs in the town centre.
Steve Yewman, development director at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, said: “Securing all of the land and interests needed for the scheme is an essential part of the process that will lead to the redevelopment of the Whitgift Centre.
“The redevelopment will deliver 7,000 new jobs for the people of Croydon and is a critical part of the wider redevelopment plans for the town centre."
The news is sure to be welcomed by many in Croydon after it was reported last month the development could be further delayed or even worse, collapse.
Croydon Council said at the time that new regeneration ideas will be put forward if plans were to collapse.
But now all the remaining land looks set to be bought, and the Croydon Partnership is expected to start talking to more retailers about supporting the project.
Carolyn Kenney, project director at Hammerson, has reassured businesses that the company will make sure the town centre stays open for business in the run-up to and during construction.