Croydon's new department store is here to stay for at least 150 years, according to its colourful new owner.

Marco Cash, the chief executive of Croydon Village Outlet, has spoken for the first time since last week's announcement that the former Allders department store in North End is to be given a new lease of life.

Mr Cash believes his store will bring millions to the town centre, after seeing the success of similar outlets such as Cheshire Oaks and Bicester Village.

The Glaswegian said brands such as Gucci, Armani and Prada will be on offer in the department store, as well as other top designers at discounted prices.

The store will open in September with more than 600 jobs being created.

The 46-year-old was first the owner of Andalusian Stone, which imported marble and granite into the country.

He then set up a Belgium fashion retail business called Belgisch Breigoed from the mid-80s, with his business partner Herman Pauwels with 44 stores across the country.

Minerva, the landlord of the site, announced last week Croydon Village Outlet will take over the entire floor space of the 530,000 sq ft department store.

Your Local Guardian:

Marco Cash in his office looking over the town centre.

In January, retail giants Westfield and Hammerson announced a £1bn joint venture to redevelop the Whitgift Centre and surrounding area.

Their plans are expected to be considered at planning committee in September.

Mr Cash was adamant his store will play in the future of the town centre and said he believes Croydon Village Outlet should be an anchor store for any impending development.

He said: "I have been listening to this Westfield and Hammerson story for many years. There are no definitive plans at the moment. Apparently they have been held up. So do we just sit on our hands and wait for this to happen? Or do we pro-actively pull this town together and do something.

"Procrastination is the thief of time. There is a lot of concern my tenure here will interfere with the redevelopment proposals with town, well absolutely not, my plans are conducive to what is going on in the town."

He added: "By the time they get round to doing anything we will already be an established force pulling millions of people into the town from outside.

"The last person to occupy this store stayed for 150 years. I intend to do the same."

Your Local Guardian:

Marco Cash is excited about the potential of Croydon Village Outlet

Cash on Outlets: “I am historically a retailer. I have done pretty much nothing else. I had 44 units in Belgium so I know the game. I know the retail game pretty well.

“It seemed pretty obvious to look at the format used in the states. 25 years ago I would fly out to America can come back with a bag full of Tommy Hilfiger gear.

“People were queuing up to join this new outlet phenomenon. Over a matter of time this spilled over into Britain with places like Cheshire Oaks, Braintree and Bicester Village.

“There is 17,000 outlets in America but there is 40 in Britain. I think it is only a matter of time before these outlets come to the town centres."

Cash on the potential of Croydon Village Outlet: “We are already 75 per cent subscribed here and 85% in the foodhall. We have got all the big brands, we have got all the high street names coming in and we will have international brands coming in.

“This is wonderful news for Croydon. It seems obvious to me why this is good for the town.

“If you put a 10 mile circle around Bicester Vilage, you will not get 200,000 people. If you put a ten mile circle round us in Croydon, you are looking at probably millions.

“Bicester Village attracted 5m people to the area because of the outlet. If we can get just 25% of that number, that is an extra 2million people coming to Croydon."

Cash on being the town centre anchor: “This is not a week old project. I have been working on this for months. It has all been reconfigured inside and spruced up. A lot has been going on behind the scenes.

“There was a lot of rumour going on but this is going to be such an exciting development for the town centre.

"If you don’t have an anchor in your town centre then you will lose people. You are losing economy to your neighbouring towns if you don’t have something to attract shoppers.

“We have got international brands coming here. Apart from all your designer brands there will be a gold room here which will have your Guccis, Armarnis and Pradas available.

“Do you want to sit on a train for a couple of hours to go to one of these outlets? Or do you want to sit on a train for 15minutes to get to Croydon from Victoria.

“The store will open in September. The impact will be instant. I won’t be doing much advertising in Croydon  as everyone here will know what we are doing.

“Our focus will be in central London and the neighbouring counties."

Cash on Westfield and Hammerson: "We are looking to bringing Croydon back.
“I have been listening to this (Westfield and Hammerson) story for many many years. There are no definitive plans. There is no definitive plan. Apparently the plans have been held up at the moment.

“So do we just sit on our hands and wait for this to happen or do we proactively pull this town together and do something.

“Procrastination is the thief of time. There is a lot of concern that my tenure here will interfere with the redevelopment proposals with town, well absolutely not, my plans are conducive to what is going on in the town.

“We are offering long term jobs here. We wouldn’t mind even anchoring the big picture if they are looking for a anchor tenant.

“By the time they get round to doing this we will already be an established force pulling millions of people into the town from outside.

“What a great start to the new bigger picture."