Once-thriving town that’s now dubbed a ‘rubbish dump’ set for new shopping centre & train station in £5bn revamp
AFTER years of delays, Croydon’s centre is finally set to undergo a major transformation.
From retail and housing to new public spaces and train station improvements, the London borough is set to see a hefty £5 billion invested into the area.
Croydon’s Old Town boasts a rich history of Saxon-era buildings as well as being the Archbishop of Canterbury‘s summer residence for more than 500 years.
However, the bustling area eventually became neglected, falling into disrepair.
Some locals even complained that the town had become an eyesore and an embarrassment, pointing out the vast amounts of rubbish being dumped in public areas.
In 2012, Croydon was promised a Westfield location, however plans for the development were eventually scrapped.
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) took control of the project in 2023, giving residents of the area new hope.
Tim Hurstwyn, Development Director at URW spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) about the new plans.
He explained that unlike the old Westfield plans, which mainly focused on retail, this new initiative would be “mixed-used” and flexible.
“If the last few things have taught us anything, it is that building for a particular use is short-sighted,” he said.
He confirmed that construction is expected to start in 2028 and would see the Whitgift Centre transformed into a mixed-use space “emphasising community and accessibility”.
The current centre would be split into two areas: Whitgift North and South.
Under the plans, Whitgift North would contain housing and other community-use spaces, depending on the local need.
This area would also include a public square, a linear park, flexible workspaces, and retail units.
Meanwhile, Whitgift South would remain primarily a retail-focused area with room for car parking, some houses, and a public area called Anchor Square.
The south side would also go back to the listed Whitgift Almshouses and Electric House, which are URW’s primary heritage concerns.
The Whitgift’s newer sibling, Centrale, which sits on the other side of North End, is also included in URW’s redevelopment site.
‘Downtrodden’ English ghost town where locals feel ‘left behind’ being turned into ‘vibrant’ shopping hub in £9m revamp
By Nicole Cherruault
A “DOWNTRODDEN” English ghost town is being turned into a “vibrant” shopping hub in a £9million revamp.
The town in northern Manchester set to totally transform as the council launches a multi-million pound “vision for change” after locals complained the town felt “left behind”.
More than 600 people were consulted over renovation plans in Eccles, Salford and work has now started on demolishing the town’s shopping centre, which was suffering from falling visitors numbers.
Following the demolition stage, a development partner will be appointed to bring new life to what residents described as a “downtrodden” town, reports Manchester Evening News.
The objective, the council said, is to create a “vibrant” and a “fit for purpose” centre for people to enjoy.
Attracting more independent retailers, and new bars and cafes are among the council’s top priorities.
And just three miles from Salford Quays and Manchester city centre, the redevelopment project looks set to transform the area into a buzzing place for young professionals and business owners.
This comes as locals despaired over the ailing town, saying they felt it had been “left behind” and it was in desperate need of some “drastic” improvements.
The council stressed that the demolition work will be a long process, with the initial phase due only to be completed by the end of the year.
However, Councillor Mike McCusker reassured locals that despite the renovations, the town centre “remains open for business”, stressing that the works only affect a few areas.
He said: “Whilst we work on the town centre of the future, today’s town centre remains open for business,” said Coun Mike McCusker, lead member for planning, transport and sustainable development at Salford council.
“I want to stress that this demolition work only affects certain parts of the town centre.
“The shops and businesses on Church Street are still open for business and unaffected by this work.”
Meanwhile, Councillor McCusker, who represents the Eccles ward, shared his enthusiasm for the project, in particular for its focus on the local community.
In a statement, he spoke of his “excitement” for the times ahead in materialising their vision for a brighter, more dynamic Eccles.
He said “Through our purchase of the shopping centre, we were able to put the future of the town centre in the hands of the council and the community.
“It has enabled us to begin this important and long-overdue programme of work, to deliver the vision we have developed with the community.
“The demolition work will take some time, but there are exciting times ahead for Eccles as we work to bring this vision to life.”
A more modern site, Centrale opened in 2004, 34 years after the Whitgift, and therefore has less intensive works planned.
While there is currently no indication as to how tall the planned development will be, one URW representative told the LRDS that the plans are not expected to reach the heights of the skyscraper buildings around East Croydon station.
And the station is also set to undergo a development of its own as part of the town’s ambitious £5.25 billion regeneration project, Future Croydon.
East Croydon Station, which welcomes 26,000 passengers a day, will see upgrades including a concourse expansion and reconfiguration of tracks to reduce bottle-nosing delays.
While construction is yet to begin on the station work, the transformation of Whitgift into a flagship retail space is anticipated to start in 2028.
Completion is not expected until the 2030s.
Executive Mayor Jason Perry said he is committed to bringing the transformation project to life.
“We will work with residents and partners across Croydon in new ways to make this happen and to bring this transformation plan
to life,” he said.
“My promise is to turnaround Croydon.”