Westfield in Croydon will look more like a ‘Paris shopping mall,’ says firm’s chief executive

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

Croydon’s Westfield shopping centre will look like a Paris shopping mall with a hotel and offices, according to the firm’s chief executive.

Jean-Marie Tritant, the chief executive of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, also said that Covid was the “final nail in the coffin” for dreams of a supermall in Croydon.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, Mr Tritant said he was still committed to redeveloping the Whitgift Centre, but added that it would look more like the company’s Paris mall.

Les Ateliers Gaîté, in the Montparnasse district of Paris, includes a 1,000-room hotel, offices and homes.

It has now been more than three years since the company said it was rethinking its plans for Croydon, moving away from its blueprint for a £1.5 billion shopping centre.

Fewer shops, more restaurants and a hotel were announced as possible options in 2019, but firm plans are yet to be released.

It is understood the Croydon Partnership, the joint venture in charge which combines Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and Hammerson, is still working on its ‘masterplan’ for Croydon.

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

This summer, a spokesman for the partnership said: “The Croydon Partnership remains committed to Croydon and is currently working on a new approach for the regeneration of the town centre.

“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.”

An immersive theatre experience is expected to open soon in the former Allders building in North End.

Speaking in September, Croydon Mayor Jason Perry confirmed Westfield was likely to use existing buildings in the borough instead of building a massive supermall.

He added that there was likely to be fewer new shops on offer.

Mr Perry said: “Officers have been having regular meetings with Westfield.

“They are putting together a master-planning team which is due to be ready any day now.

“That is going to be around understanding what people’s desires are going forward.”

Pictured top: The Whitgift Shopping Centre (Picture: Wikimedia Commons/Hzh)