06 Feb 2014, 1:57 pm
The parties yesterday completed a Section 106 agreement for the scheme and planning permission was issued following a resolution to grant by the Council's planning committee in November last year.
The scheme includes the conversion of the existing shopping centre into a 1.5m sq ft retail and leisure destination, with between 400 and 600 new homes, and is expected to create 5,000 permanent jobs. It will also 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.
“This is fantastic news for Croydon. We are issuing final planning consent for this major regeneration project as the economy is on the up - the timing just couldn’t be better," said Croydon Council cabinet member for planning and transport Jason Perry in a statement.
“The Westfield//Hammerson development has put Croydon’s town centre on the map as a retail and leisure destination and today’s agreement confirms it as a real catalyst for regeneration throughout our borough."
“I’m pleased to say this Section 106 agreement will ensure that Croydon residents are the main beneficiaries of the Westfield/ Hammerson development as it delivers new jobs, homes and opportunities," Perry added.
Construction on the scheme is expected to start next year.
