Croydon Council approves major £1.4bn town centre redevelopment

Plans to redevelop Croydon town centre have been approved by the council and could bring in as many as 7,000 jobs and 1,000 new homes.The £1.4bn proposal for the Whitgift Shopping Centre, put forward by the Croydon Partnership, was unanimously given the green light by London Borough of Croydon’s planning committee last night.Plans are expected to create over 300 shops, including restaurants, cafes, leisure facilities and a multi-screen cinema and bowling alley.The proposals were first granted planning permission in February 2014, but last October an enhanced outline planning application was submitted featuring key revisions, including more housing and a third level of retail.Council leader Cllr Tony Newman said approval was “fantastic news” for Croydon after the authority had been working with the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Greg Hands, minister for London, to push redevelopment in the area.