Whitgift plans will be 'nothing like' current site

The regeneration of a south London shopping centre will look "nothing like" the existing site, with plans including up to 4,000 homes, green space and a public square for events.

Croydon Council is scrutinising pre-application plans after developer Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) bought the ageing Whitgift Centre along with Green Park House and the parts of the Allders building from the John Whitgift Foundation in July for £31.5m.

The developer's early proposals included new details and images of the proposed offering.

Adam Smith, URW strategic development director, said the plans were "the most efficient masterplan we can come up with to make sure it is as viable as possible".

Among the proposals was "The Forum", a public square on the site of the existing Whitgift Centre with space for 2,000-person events.

The plans also included a new green space provisionally named Whitgift Park, and between 3,000 and 4,000 homes.

Smith told a council committee that a residential-led model was necessary to make the project financially viable, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Green Party councillor Ria Patel said the borough needed "genuinely affordable housing".

Smith said more details on the housing would come at a later stage, adding that some flats would be "expensive", which was needed to "balance the equation" and also build "affordable categories".

The proposal was for a series of residential towers of various heights ranging from 12 to 45 storeys, along with lower-rise blocks.

The heritage impact, the locally listed 1960s Centre Tower, and pedestrian routes were also discussed in the meeting.

URW said it intended to submit a formal outline planning application in 2027.

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