Croydon Limited Partnership, a JV between Westfield and Hammerson, has submitted revised plans for its £1.4bn mixed-use Croydon scheme, the redevelopment of the Whitgift shopping centre.
Original outline plans were granted in February 2014. Westfield’s plans have since evolved, with the acquisition of more buildings and a requirement from Marks & Spencer for a new site in the town centre. This has resulted in an additional storey being added to the leisure element.
The Whitgift redevelopment is further enhanced through CLP’s ownership of the adjoining Centrale shopping centre. This will allow for the short- and medium-term decanting and temporary relocations for the existing occupiers within the Whitgift Centre. Westfield and Hammerson say this will help to minimise the impact on existing businesses, jobs and shoppers during construction works.
These factors (among others) have allowed the opportunity for a more comprehensive development across a wider area to be promoted.
A total of 173,684 sq m of retail and leisure is proposed, an increase of around 12% on the existing consent. This includes more than 300 shops, restaurants and cafés as well as a multi-screen cinema.
A total of between 626 and 967 homes are proposed, entirely for the rental market, up from the 620 units previously planned. The on-site affordable housing will be provided within a discounted intermediate rented tenure with a minimum 20% discount to open market rents. The exact tenure split between private and affordable has yet to be determined.
Documents attached to the application reveal the heights of the five proposed residential towers will range from 29-49 storeys, substantially higher than the existing consent allows.
It is anticipated that the new Whitgift scheme will be built out in two phases. Phase one will consist of the commercial development and residential Towers 1 and 2 and the substructure for residential Towers 3, 4 and 5. Phase two will see the construction of the remaining residential development for Towers 3, 4 and 5.
CLP said the proposed development would bring a range of investment and spending related benefits, including an annual £12m town centre spend from the new residential population, as well as an annual £7.7m spend from the new employment created. For comparison Westfield’s Stratford City scheme employs about 8,800 people.
In terms of GVA, the increase in employment would make a significant economic contribution, an impact of up to £135m pa. As well as that, the proposed development will mean an estimated net increase of up to around £200m per year in business rates.
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