Croydon faces an anxious wait to find out whether a planning inspector thinks the £1bn Westfield/ Hammerson shopping centre redevelopment plan should get the go ahead.

Paul Griffiths has been presiding over the five week public inquiry into the compulsory purchase order and stopping up order for the land where the development would be built.

And as the inquiry came to a close he said his report into whether the CPO and SUO are fine as they are or should be amended or rejected will be ready by the end of May.

His recommendation will then be forwarded to the Secretary of State who will make the final decision on the orders.

If they are approved then businesses on the land where the development will be built, including the Whitgift Centre, can be bought up and demolished.

But if it is rejected it will be a serious setback to Croydon Council’s regeneration dreams for the town centre.