Croydon Council’s planning committee has endorsed Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield’s (URW) framework masterplan for the redevelopment of the North End Quarter in Croydon, which encompasses the former Allders department store and the Centrale & Whitgift Shopping Centre.
The decision marks an important milestone in the development of the project’s masterplan, which has been spearheaded by Allies and Morrison.
The framework is intended to help guide the long-term regeneration of the area over the next 10 to 15 years and sets out 10 principles to transform the area into a vibrant, mixed-use destination featuring new homes, shops, restaurants, cultural venues and public spaces.
URW and the project’s design team will now work with the recently launched NextGen Panel, which comprises 16 to 25 year-olds who live, work or study in the borough, to shape the proposals.
Penny Cameron, head of development at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, said: “Our vision for the North End Quarter is one that will revitalise Croydon’s town centre through a truly mixed-use offer, while celebrating the areas unique heritage. We are pleased to have this support from the council, allowing us to embark on next stage designs with input from our NextGen Panel who will be appointed shortly to help shape the proposal.”
Paul Eaton, partner at Allies and Morrison, added: “Our approach to design and planning is rooted in a deep understanding of how to create places, the importance of public realm, interactivity and connectivity from both a building and a human perspective. We are excited to be working with URW as we start bringing together detailed designs for the site that follow the principles we have drawn up together. We look forward to sharing these with the community and hearing their feedback.”
Jason Perry, executive mayor of Croydon, said: “Croydon has so much potential and the regeneration of our town centre is crucial to maximising this, putting our borough back on the map and restoring pride. This is a top priority for me and I have been working with a huge range of external partners to drive forward a really exciting vision for our town centre. Our partnership with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is fundamental to this transformation and I welcome the next stage in the development of their masterplan.”
