Tag Archives: URW

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

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

Latest Allders plan offers more fried chicken for town centre

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Mayor Jason Perry managed to get all excited last week by a planning application from the Paris-based shopping mall developers that amounts to nothing more than a knocked-off, down-sized, mini-Boozepark. It’s just the latest sign that the … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Business, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Nicola Townsend, Planning, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

‘Too little, too late’: Residents underwhelmed by Mayor’s stunt

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Westfield wants to make alterations to the fascia of Allders, as Jason Perry gets over-excited about seven ‘kiosks’. By STEVEN DOWNES “Too little, too late.” That was the response from residents when Mayor Jason Perry pulled a … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Business, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 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

Business owners ignored as Whitgift closes car park entrance

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Shopping centre managers have gone ahead with the closure of the old Allders car park – making it even more difficult for people to visit the increasingly dilapidated venue The management of the Whitgift Centre has ignored … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Business, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Businesses on the brink as Whitgift Centre set to close car park

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Long-term lack of maintenance and closures of part of the shopping mall are seeing fewer customers visiting the town centre, leaving some business owners in tears. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Owners and managers of the few remaining … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Business, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Westfield makes £25,000 annual grant to ensure lasting Legacy

Croydon’s Legacy Youth Zone is to receive £75,000 over the next three years as part of a “new partnership” with Unibail-Rodamco Westfield, the French-owned multi-billion shopping centre developers and owners. URW announced the deal with Legacy, saying that it “forms … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Charity, Education, Selhurst, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre, Youth Services | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Body Shop confirms Whitgift Centre branch among closures

Our retailing disaster correspondent, MT WALLETTE, on the latest body blow to claims that the town centre’s shopping mall is doing thriving business The Body Shop is to close its branch in the Whitgift Centre, the struggling cosmetics retailer has … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

Tories warn residents: don’t be ‘negative’ about Allders murals

The hard-working volunteers of a local community association have been harshly criticised by their Tory ward councillor for not being as obsequious and fawning as required over the latest artwashing exploits in the town centre. Tory councillor Michael Neal – … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Art, Business, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Neal, Planning, South Croydon, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 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

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

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

What will the ‘new’ Westfield deal really mean for Croydon?

STEVEN DOWNES outlines some of the likely consequences of this week’s announcement that Paris-based Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield have bought out their former partners Hammerson for the redevelopment of the town centre In all the flurry of civic excitement over the announcement that … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Centrale, CPO, Croydon Council, Growth Zone, Housing, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, Planning, Sadiq Khan, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Perry blasted after trying to take credit for Westfield’s new deal

Political correspondent WALTER CRONXITE on how elected Mayor’s grandstanding over a deal with which he had no involvement has been seen through by ordinary Council Tax-payers Croydon Mayor Jason Perry came under fire last night, as he tried to take … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Centrale, Mayor Jason Perry, Sean Fitzsimons, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Westfield’s boss admits covid was ‘nail in coffin’ for Croydon

There’s no prospect any time soon of French-based developers ending the decade-long blight to the Whitgift Centre, according to the CEO of  Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. By our retailing correspondent, MT WALLETTE Covid was “the final nail in the coffin” for the £1.4billion … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Business, Centrale, Croydon Council, Debenhams, Gavin Barwell, House of Fraser, Jo Negrini, Tony Newman, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Westfield wants to revive plans for Croydon’s blighted centre

More than three years after shelving their £1.4bn scheme for the town centre, the developers’ monster mall is back on the drawing board – but with significant differences. By STEVEN DOWNES Like a Frankenstein monster after being given a shot … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Business, Centrale, CPO, Croydon Council, Growth Zone, House of Fraser, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 33 Comments

French boardroom revolution could force Westfield sell-off

By STEVEN DOWNES It is looking increasingly likely that Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield will look to unload any interests they hold in the long-promised £1.4billion redevelopment scheme for Croydon town centre. It is almost two years since URW decided to “review” the already … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Centrale, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Wait-field: now Labour council leader Newman calls it a ‘mess’

Our Town Hall reporter, KEN LEE, on the rancour and recriminations between the borough’s third-rate politicians, desperately trying to pass the buck over the stalled £1.4bn supermall scheme, as City Hall is forced to step in to try to salvage … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Centrale, Croydon Council, Gavin Barwell, Jo Negrini, Jules Pipe, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Planning, Tony Newman, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments