Westfield and Hammerson's plans for Croydon's Whitgift Centre granted approval

The Committee unanimously voted in favour of granting outline planning and conservation area consent to convert the existing shopping centre into a 1.5m sq ft retail and leisure destination, with 400 – 600 new homes. The scheme forms part of the wider 2million sq ft plan to regenerate Croydon town centre, including the adjacent Centrale shopping centre, which has planning consent for a refurbishment programme.

The scheme will involve improvements to existing public areas adjacent to the development such as Poplar Walk, North End, Wellesley Road and George Street together with new road junctions at Wellesley Road and Park Lane.

The committee's resolution followed the recommendation for approval of the regeneration scheme contained in the officers' report to members.

The plan for the scheme, which will create up to 5,000 new jobs, and includes restaurants, cafes, a bowling alley and a cinema, came forward in January following a dispute between the developers as to which had the right to go ahead with its plans. The developers, Westfield and Hammerson, are now bringing forward the plan under a 50/50 joint venture, 'The Croydon Partnership'.

John Burton, Westfield's director of development said in an announcement from the Croydon Partnership: “This is a significant step forward in our plans for the redevelopment of Croydon’s retail town centre and importantly will create 5,000 new local jobs. We believe that our proposed £1bn investment into the transformation of Croydon’s shopping and leisure offer has the potential to act as a major catalyst for the wider physical and social regeneration of the town. The support we received from the Council last night further strengthens that belief.”

Councillor leader Mike Fisher said: “Today’s resolution to approve Westfield and Hammerson’s planning application is a very important day for Croydon. We are committed to ensuring that the town’s regeneration projects provide a lasting positive impact for Croydon and future generations.”

"This decision by Croydon Council will massively accelerate the regeneration of Croydon town centre," said planning expert Richard Ford of Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com. "Croydon Limited Partnership combine the resources of two leading shopping centre developers and the residential component will add to the liveliness of the development mix."

The grant of planning permission is subject to conditions, the completion of a section 106 agreement and approval from the Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles.  The Mayor responded positively to the announcement last night, saying that he was "overjoyed two illustrious retail giants had come together in this way".

If planning permission is granted construction is expected to start in 2015.