More restaurants set for Croydon Westfield after high street shoppers move online
The slump in customers in shops caused by the rise of online shopping has led to changes to the vision of a revamped mall.
Croydon’s new Westfield complex will keep some existing buildings and refurbish them as part of the plans.
This is different from the original plan to demolish the buildings, including the Whitgift Centre and the former Allders building.
Council leader Councillor Tony Newman yesterday welcomed the announcement as “good news” on Twitter.
Developers announced in October that the scheme was being reviewed due to ‘challenges facing the retail industry’.
It is now expected to include a mix of retail, dining, leisure and uses such as a hotel, offices and residential space.
A spokeswoman for the Croydon Partnership said: “We are working closely with Croydon council, the Greater London Authority and local stakeholders to develop the right masterplan.
“Croydon council, the Greater London Authority and the Croydon Partnership held a productive meeting to discuss the time-intensive, future planning support needed for a large and complex scheme, and the delivery of a more sustainable development, phased over time, which includes the refurbishment of some existing buildings.”
Some Whitgift Centre traders say their future is threatened as a result of the uncertainty.
“We will continue to consult with businesses and residents on their needs for the town centre which will also inform the review,” said the spokeswoman.
“The Croydon Partnership is still committed to ensuring a dynamic town centre and will work together with all stakeholders and the community to support its existing assets in Croydon.”
I don’t go on online shopping, but I am loathed to go to croydon shopping because of the exorbitant Car Parking fees. £6:20 for 1to 2hrs parking, most people would like to shop for 4hrs and have a bite to eat and a cup of coffee. Selling of the Parking sites to NCP Wellesley Rd hasn’t done the shop owners or the customers any good?
You end up rushing, or looking at your watch all of the time.
It’s not enjoyable. Reduce the parking fees, and maybe the trade will go up!
This change of plans makes more sense it was an obvious factor from the start that to fill it with shops was a waste of time and money. In the meantime don’t you think it more fair to the existing traders left in the whitgift centre who have been badly damaged by the proceedings already to reduce the ridiculously high parking charges. Parking in other fully functioning shopping centres is nowhere near as much, it certainly puts me off going there and the traders that are left deserve better, they should be supported at this time and shoppers encouraged to keep using the centre and surrounding shops.
I much prefer shopping in person to online. but I avoid Croydon, even though I live 15 mins away from the town center because its such an awful environment. The development delays and lack of investment have left the Whitgift centre looking like the dreaded Elephant & Castle shopping center. Buckets catching water from a leaky roof, empty units, bargain basement shops. North End is just as bad if not worse. how many £££ shops can one town need!? and £8 to park is a joke. I go to bluewater, or Westfield, or Oxford Street, or Bromley – anywhere else
Fix up Croydon!