Category Archives: Centrale

Waiting for Westfield leaves us Urban Room for improvement

With not a moment to lose, KEN TOWL dashed down to the Whitgift Centre to try to discover what the multi-national developers might have in store for the town centre, amid their models made of cereal packets and design briefs … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Business, Centrale, CPO, Croydon Council, Ken Towl, North End Quarter, Planning, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Westfield wants to build five times as many flats in town centre

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The one-time shopping mall developer is shapeshifting its business towards residential property, but appears in no hurry to action any of its promises after more than a decade of blight to North End. By our housing correspondent, … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Business, Centrale, CPO, Croydon Council, North End Quarter, Planning, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Westfield appoints firm that oversaw King’s Cross scheme

Westfield has today begun what they call “a year-long programme of engagement”, before the Paris-based shopping mall developers finally put together a planning application, by our reckoning the third, for what was once a £1.4billion regeneration scheme in Croydon town … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Business, Centrale, CPO, Croydon Council, North End Quarter, Planning, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Frankie Goes To Croydon – a walking show with a big reveal

The first Croydonites Fringe Festival was staged over the weekend, a curtain-raiser for a month-long programme of theatre around the borough, and KEN TOWL was there to see it all unveiled at one of the shows I’m standing in the … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Art, Centrale, Croydonites Festival, Ken Towl, Theatre, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Westfield reveal consultation and more delays on ‘masterplan’

CROYDON IN CRISIS: After being crushed by developer blight for more than a decade, the town centre faces an even longer wait for the big reveal of Paris-based multi-national’s latest proposals. By STEVEN DOWNES It could be more than a … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Business, Centrale, CPO, Croydon Council, Nazeya Hussain, North End Quarter, Planning, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Hussein handed council hot seat for Westfield development

EXCLUSIVE: KEN LEE, our Town Hall reporter, with a leaked internal memo on the appointment of the latest corporate director for Fisher’s Folly Nazeya Hussein, after a career working in local government, has been announced as the new, albeit interim, … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Business, Centrale, Croydon Council, Heather Cheesbrough, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Nazeya Hussain, Shifa Mustafa, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Perry allows Westfield to spend £6m ‘fine’ on own interests

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Glacially slow progress, more delays and a secretive land deal to flog-off council-owned car parks to multi-national developers are buried in an official report. By KEN LEE, our Town Hall reporter The council’s propaganda department’s devious approach … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Business, Centrale, Croydon Council, Growth Zone, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Parking, Planning, Property, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

After 12 years of blight, Westfield offers groups £1,000 grants

Crumbs from the table. After more than 12 years of development blight in Croydon town centre, at unmeasurable cost to residents, local business owners and even the local authority, Westfield have coughed up a grand total of £100,000 for a … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Centrale, Charity, Community associations, CVA, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Get a taste of the beach life this August at Costa del Croydon

Did someone say heatwave? Sun seekers need to go no further than the top deck of Centrale’s multi-storey car park in the heart of Croydon from tomorrow to enjoy a staycation with a difference. Costa Del Croydon opens to the … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Activities, Business, Centrale, Costa del Croydon | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Planning and tax changes might suit delayed Westfield scheme

Does the growth-driven agenda of Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves’s Labour government offer any change of fortune for Croydon? ANDREW FISHER, pictured right, weighs up the possibilities It should have been all so different: “Croydon’s future secured with agreement to … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Andrew Fisher, Business, Centrale, Council Tax, Croydon College, Croydon Council, Housing, LSBU campus, Mayor Jason Perry, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Westfield’s parking charges are message to Croydon: FAAC off

The controversial closure of the old Allders car park, cutting off access for shoppers to the Whitgift shopping centre, is just one of a series of moves undertaken by Westfield which appear to make visiting the shops in Croydon town … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Business, Centrale, Parking, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Met investigates criminal damage as Barclays front is smashed

Croydon town centre’s Barclays Bank was the target of vandalism attack in the early hours of this morning, with its toughened glass frontage completely smashed in. The bank branch, in a prime location on the junction of North End and … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Centrale, Crime | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Exciting Easter lined up for visitors to Centrale and Whitgift

This Easter, Centrale and Whitgift shopping centres in Croydon town centre will be hosting a roster of interactive activities for families – and helping to raise funds for a local arts charity. From April 1 to 5, you and the … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Activities, Business, Centrale, House of Fraser, Stanley Halls, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Much-loved Whitgift Centre café to shut down on Saturday

This Saturday will be your last chance to enjoy a decent cup of coffee, maybe a sandwich or a bit of cake, in what claims to be the best café in the Whitgift Centre. The Camden Coffee House has announced … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Centrale, Mayor Jason Perry, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Puerile attempt to design town centre with sticky-back plastic

Patronising and puerile, the council’s latest attempt to “engage” the public  has reached a new low, even by the subterranean standards of Fisher’s Folly. The cash-strapped council is now trying to pretend it is doing something about the state of … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Centrale, Croydon Council, Environment, Mayor Jason Perry, Turf Projects, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Croydon escapes worst effects of Gove’s ‘Developers’ Charter’

Tory minister takes a swipe at London Mayor as he moves to reduce planning restrictions and allow ‘some incredibly poor quality homes which should not have been built’ Croydon and Sutton might just escape the worst excesses of Michael Gove’s … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", 2024 London elections, Business, Centrale, Croydon Council, Housing, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Planning, Property, Sadiq Khan, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

While admiring town centre’s new art, try not to get arrested

The newly installed street art around the town centre has its appeal, the overtly hostile security policy in Centrale less so, says KEN TOWL It was quite a thrill to be described as “the IC1 male taking pictures with a … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Art, Business, Centrale, Ken Towl, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Rolex and gem boutique Loupe opens £3m store in Centrale

Following a £3million investment, Loupe Croydon opened its doors on Friday. The luxury diamond, fine jewellery and watch outlet is in Centrale, off North End, and occupies 4,300sqft of retail space, and features a showroom for Rolex with an Authorised … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Centrale, Loupe | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

2023 in Croydon – as told through our best-read articles

THE YEAR IN REVIEW Part 1 – January to April The parlous state of the council’s finances would remain a thorny issue throughout the year, after Tory Mayor Jason Perry issued a Section 114 notice of his own in November … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Birch (Selsdon), Business, Centrale, Crime, Croydon Council, Heathfield House, History, Inside Croydon, Knife crime, Mayor Jason Perry, Sarah Jones MP, Selsdon Park Hotel, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tory Perry launches ‘Urban Room’ where nothing’s happening

Our retailing correspondent, MT WALLETTE, reports on the latest half-cock initiative from the council to ‘revive’ the ailing town centre: an insta account and a desperate plea for ideas from the public Mayor Jason Perry’s latest feeble effort to somehow … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Andrew Pelling, Business, Centrale, Croydon BID, Croydon Council, Environment, Fairfield, Growth Zone, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, Peter Underwood, Planning, Ria Patel, Secret Cinema, Stiles Harold Williams, TfL, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Millionaire pulls plug on Mayor Perry’s ‘big idea’ for Allders

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The businessman behind Secret Cinema folded five companies in August, as ambitious plans for the ‘turning point for the future of entertainment’ in Croydon’s dilapidated town centre are abandoned. By STEVEN DOWNES Jason Perry put on his … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Business, Centrale, Croydon BID, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Secret Cinema, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Diwali festival of light set to brighten up the Whitgift Centre

The Whitgift shopping centre is inviting Croydon residents to join in the festivities as they celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Light, on Saturday November 4. Diwali is one of the most significant festivals in Hinduism, symbolising the triumph of light … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Centrale, Church and religions, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Westfield boss says Croydon scheme could take 15 more years

‘Sustainable’ plans for redeveloping the town centre could see as many as 30,000 new flats built, according to one council figure, but a scheme that was originally due to be completed in 2017 now might only be finished more than … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Business, Centrale, Sean Fitzsimons, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Hammer blow for Whitgift Centre with new delay to masterplan

CROYDON IN CRISIS: No more ‘Death Star’-type, £1.4bn Westfield shopping mall say developers, who want to build ‘thousands’ of flats, as Paris-based firm looks for a more sustainable approach In a hammer blow to any hope of urgently rescuing the … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Centrale, Croydon Council, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

After 54 years, Sainsbury’s enters final week in Whitgift Centre

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The departure of one of the shopping centre’s ever-presents will only reinforce the feeling of decay and decline in the town centre Sainsbury’s has confirmed that the final day of trading for its Whitgift Centre store will … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Centrale, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments