All systems go as Westfields/Hammersons given the green light
Croydon’s £1.5 billion Westfield/Hammerson development set to transform Croydon will begin next year after overcoming its final hurdle. The Government gave the go-ahead on Wednesday to the crucial compulsory purchase order (CPO) needed to buy up the Whitgift Centre and other parts of the town centre.
The decision comes after the planning inspector, who led a six-week inquiry held in February and March. Work will begin in the next year, with an opening date for the new shopping and housing development is set for 2019.
Responding to the news, Steve Reed MP said:
This is a historic day for our town. From the very early planning stages all the way to final public hearing, a lot has come together to get us here today.
This decision will mean thousands of news jobs and homes in our town centre and puts Croydon on the map as an ambitious city on the edge of London.
I’ll be working with the council and the Mayor of London to make sure that this regeneration does not stop at West Croydon, but benefits the London Road and other district centres.
Steven Reed is Labour MP for Croydon North and Shadow Minister for Children and Families. In 2018 his private member’s bill on reducing violent mental health restraint became law. In June 2019 he launched Labour’s civil society strategy outlining radical plans to empower citizens and communities.
Steve chairs the Cooperative Councils Innovation Network, co-chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for London, was Leader of Lambeth Council 2006-12 where he led the council’s children’s services to become best-rated in the country and pioneered the public-health approach to tackling violent youth crime. He worked in publishing for 16 years and was an elected trade union branch secretary.