Tag Archives: Westfield

Builders brand Gove’s latest CPO reforms as ‘desperation’

Our housing correspondent, BARRATT HOLMES, on how a ‘very un-Conservative’ policy shift has probably come too late to save Croydon town centre New powers handed to local authorities by the Conservative Government could, just, open the way for Croydon Council … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, CPO, Croydon Council, Housing, London-wide issues, Planning, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 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

16-year-old Whitgift pupil’s death is linked to text blackmail

‘The world is so cruel’: boy’s father tells Coroner’s Court of family’s pain after latest tragic case The John Whitgift Foundation, a registered charity which has been providing alms and education in Croydon since the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, … Continue reading

Posted in Christopher Ramsey, Crime, Schools, South Croydon, Whitgift Foundation, Whitgift School | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

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

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 , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Westfield begins ‘cover-up’ at Allders – with pop art hoardings

STEVEN DOWNES on the latest efforts by Westfield to make up for more than a decade of development blight After a 12-year wait, Westfield has finally started constructing something in Croydon town centre. Nothing as substantive, or as lasting, as … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Art, Business, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Police investigated child abuse claims at Whitgift last year

The Met has confirmed that they followed up complaints about sexual abuse at the £47,000 per year boys’ private school, after pictures and messages were shared on social media, which may have contributed to the suicide of a former teacher. … Continue reading

Posted in Christopher Ramsey, Crime, Schools, South Croydon, Whitgift Foundation, Whitgift School | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Foundation brings forward Old Palace prep closure by a year

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Early closure of the fee-paying primary school will speed up sale of the site in South Croydon – probably to a profit-hungry housing developer. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES The financially troubled Whitgift Foundation is seeking to accelerate … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Chris Philp MP, Housing, Jane Burton, Old Palace, Property, Sarah Jones MP, Schools, South Croydon, Whitgift Foundation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Another Whitgift shock as second head teacher decides to quit

CROYDON IN CRISIS: To lose one head teacher in a single academic year is unfortunate. For Croydon’s biggest landowners to lose two from their private schools is beginning to appear worrying. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Christopher Ramsey, the headmaster of … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Christopher Ramsey, Education, Jane Burton, Old Palace, Schools, South Croydon, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation, Whitgift School | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Croydon in 2023: Murder, school closures and Westfield blight

THE YEAR IN REVIEW Part 3 – September to December It’s not like there’s ever any shortage of stories to cover in Croydon. But even by this area’s usual standards, the news that Inside Croydon reported, often exclusively, in the … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Art, Business, Crime, Croydon Council, History, Inside Croydon, Knife crime, Mayor Jason Perry, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Croydon 2023: the Penn Report, dog attacks and those giraffes

THE YEAR IN REVIEW Part 2 – May to August If there was one good thing to come out of Croydon Council this year, then it must have been the Penn Report. Katherine Kerswell, the council’s chief executive, had held … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Art, Borough of Culture 2023, Business, Crime, Croydon Council, Heathfield House, History, Inside Croydon, Knife crime, Mayor Jason Perry, Sarah Jones MP, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

Have we got Croydon news for you! – latest podcast out now

Posted in Croydon Insider, Inside Croydon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mayor Perry is told to wait for £18.5m Levelling Up boost

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Business interests in the town centre will benefit from Government cash for cycling and walking schemes. But doubts surround whether Mayor Perry will manage to deliver a six-year-old Labour plan to open up College Green. By our … Continue reading

Posted in Business, College Green, Croydon BID, Croydon Council, Cycling, East Croydon, Environment, Fairfield Halls, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning, Waddon, West Croydon, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Chief exec stands down from struggling Whitgift Foundation

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The borough’s biggest landlords have been hit by another blow. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Martin Corney has resigned as the chief executive of the Whitgift Foundation, Inside Croydon can reveal. The Whitgift Foundation, which traces its origins … Continue reading

Posted in Education, Old Palace, Schools, Whitgift Foundation | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

£7,000 ‘bribes’ prompt pupil exodus from doomed school

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Fewer than 300 girls returned to Old Palace after half-term, as the charitable foundation that runs the school offered cash inducements to their parents to withdraw their daughters promptly. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Around half of the … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Charity, Education, Old Palace, Old Palace Parents' Alliance, Schools, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation | 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

Foundation abandoned new school plan after taking £70m loan

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The decision to close Old Palace marked a rapid U-turn on all previous policy at the property-owning charity, according to documents obtained by this website. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES As recently as last year, the Whitgift Foundation … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Education, Jane Burton, Old Palace, Schools, Trinity School, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation, Whitgift School | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Westfield, the incinerator, NHS and Croydon’s Gaza response

Posted in "Hammersfield", Andrew Fisher, Business, Croydon Insider, Donna Fraser, Inside Croydon, Under The Flyover, Waste incinerator, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mayor refuses to answer questions on Purley Pool’s developer

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Why is the council’s Tory leadership refusing to answer questions over its support for a £100m housing scheme in central Purley that is being proposed by a small, private company that did not exist 15 months ago? … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Chris Philp MP, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning, Polaska, Polaska Assets Ltd, Property, Purley, Purley Pool | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments