And so the build begins.

An architect’s impression of what the first phase of flats on Ruskin Square will look like

The construction sites, cranes and scaffolding sprouting around the borough shows that there is indeed some economic activity going on, and now news reaches Inside Croydon Towers of a first step towards finally developing one of Croydon’s most prestigious sites, and blights of the past decade or more.

After a decade of inactivity, building work is already on-going on what is now called Ruskin Square, next to East Croydon Station.

And this week the owners, Schroder and Stanhope, announced an agreement to appoint Places for People to market and manage a first phase of flats, to be built in a corner of the site between Croydon’s infamous £20 million “Bridge to Nowhere” and the probably new new tram tracks on Dingwall Road.

This “prestigious” “Croydon Gateway” site, next to East Croydon Station, has been the graveyard of many a developer’s and architect’s lofty dreams. A Croydon Arena scheme saw the Town Hall, under both red and blue control, frustrate and stall redevelopment for years.

It is a decade since the site was levelled, to make it ready for construction, but the global financial collapse meant that there no takers for the high-value office space envisioned in the glass towers drawn up by Sir Norman Foster’s architecture firm.

This latest deal will provide a range of homes for sale, rent and part ownership. Places for People will be responsible for the affordable housing and for providing high quality management services.

The building, designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, has 161 residential units in the form of a plinth and 22-storey tower, with penthouses, a roof garden and a private communal open space at ground level.

“Stanhope and Schroders will be working closely with our new partner to realise our exciting vision for this important regeneration and gateway site in Croydon and to deliver the first of four possible phases of 625 units of much-needed, high-quality and well-located residential units,” said Jason Margrave, a director at Stanhope.

The use of the word “possible” is an intriguing caveat.

“We want to ensure that there is animation and activity on this important site. With other positive developments in planning and development in the town, this is great news for the regeneration of Croydon. We expect to make further announcements on our future plans for the rest of the site shortly,” Margrave said.

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Coming to Croydon

• David Lean Cinema: The Two Faces of January, Sep 4
• David Lean Cinema: Fading Giglolo, Sep 6
• Thornton Heath Festival, Sep 7
• Stop the Incinerator Quiz Night, Sep 8
• David Lean Cinema: Camille Claudel, Sep 11
• Warlingham rugby dinner with international Richard Hill, Sep 12
• Soul Symphony Community Choir sessions, Sep 16-Dec 23
• Norwood Society Talk: War Memorials, Sep 18
• David Lean Cinema: Chef, Sep 18
• Cinema Ruskin film show, Sep 20
• South Croydon business breakfast, Sep 20
• Open House London weekend, Sep 20-21
• David Lean Cinema: A Night At The Cinema in 1914, Sep 22
• Activity to Work back-to-work workshops, Sep 23
• David Lean Cinema: Jimmy’s Hall, Sep 25
• Streatham Common 6M race, Sep 27
• Fancy dress family funday, Sep 28
• Norwood Society Talk: From Fire Station to Theatre, Oct 16
• Cinema Ruskin film show, Oct 18
• South Croydon business breakfast, Oct 18
• South Croydon business breakfast, Nov 15
• Norwood Society Talk: Lambeth’s Archives, Nov 20
• South Croydon business breakfast, Dec 13
• South Croydon business breakfast, Jan 24

Inside Croydon: Croydon’s only independent news source, based in the heart of the borough: 407,847 page views (Jan-Jun 2014) If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, a residents’ or business association or local event, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com