CROYDON COMMENTARY: Six months ago, after the latest, tokenistic ‘consultation’ over the town centre redevelopment, TED GUSH wrote that the credibility of Westfield and its regeneration scheme was ‘officially in tatters’. Now, he reacts to the latest Property Week report
Planning blight: briefings suggest that URW were looking for a buyer for the Croydon site as they were presenting their ‘masterplan framework’ to the council
It gives me no pleasure to write this. Following on from my post about the need to “regain credibility”, clearly that ship has sailed. Any cursory visit to the remains of the Whitgift Centre now confirms that credibility is beyond reach.
For that reason alone, I support the notion of URW bailing out and letting a new operator approach the opportunity with new eyes.
There is obviously no chance of our “mayor” being able to reverse the rot, so handing over is probably best plan.
The nature of the contemporary retail challenges must be addressed and understood by a new owner. The issue of the split site must be reviewed with no pre-conditions. The price will obviously be in the “fire sale” region, but must not be blocked by the embarrassment of the current owners.
The council must accept that “insincere consultation” is no alternative to “well-considered proposals” with a “high-quality public awareness campaign” to build public support through accurate “expectation management”.
Many towns and communities in this country with fewer resources and experience than Croydon have realised this. Some initiatives are gathering support and garnering interest. Property Week knows this too. All developers know that from time to time they have to “take a bath” on badly conceived proposals. The Croydon town centre rebirth project will not be the first, nor sadly the last, where the skill, wit and imagination of the incumbent team is woefully inadequate to meet the difficulty of the challenge.
Good luck and Godspeed to all involved. This is the beginning of a new approach to an old problem. Hopefully, some exciting, young, intelligent group will emerge from the ashes.
Read more: Waiting for Westfield leaves us Urban Room for improvement
Read more: Westfield wants to build five times as many flats in town centre
- Ted Gush has tutored on design management at the RCA, lectured on design strategy and innovation at Brunel University and led on Blueprint Magazine’s training workshops. In 1995 he was awarded Fellowship of the Chartered Society of Designers. And he lives not far from Surrey Street Market
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