Possibly coming as a surprise to no-one, the plans for a Westfield shopping centre in Croydon look to finally have been scrapped with the previously granted planning permission having expired, as reported in the Evening Standard:
“Croydon is fortunate that the 2018 development did not proceed — opening post-pandemic with an outdated operating model — but the Whitgift Centre is very tired and requires a fresh approach away from a traditional model dominated by retail and anchored by department stores.”
“The Croydon Limited Partnership of Hammerson and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield has assured the council that they remain committed to regenerating our town centre. We will also be engaging with all our communities this year so their priorities for a sustainable regeneration can be taken on board.”
Given the above comments, and how much things have changed since plans originally started for this project in 2012, this could be infinitely better for the Croydon and surrounding areas because a radically new approach to shopping centre design could make this one the first of a more attractive new breed - albeit a few years down the line.
My glass is half-full on this one!