Since the riots in 2011, Croydon has been on the ‘up’. The council and residents have come together to change the face of Croydon, from our cultural art centre, to our pavements. The joint efforts has seen Croydon’s future look brighter and happier. We have taken a good look at some of the biggest changes that have happened, and those that are on the way and pulled them together to show just how the area is set to transform.
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What is new and we love …
The popular pop-up food-and-drink mall, constructed out of 97 shipping containers next to East Croydon station, has made Croydon the ‘place to be’. From Thai to Greek food, rappers to singers weekly performances and with a roof top to block out the inevitable British rain, it has revolutionised Croydon’s expansion.
The popular restaurant aims to imitate the relaxed mood of a beachfront shack, with a big octagonal bar in the middle and a full complement of rums, the chilled out Caribbean- inspired eatery, sits where Yates used to be.
East and West Croydon bus station
The new and improved £5.4m bus station in East Croydon has been completed after months of renovation, The station, which opened in April, now includes better lighting, public seating and improved pedestrian access. The rejuvenation was a joint project between Croydon Council and Transport for London.
West Croydon Bus station upgrade created a more spacious environment for passengers, as well as improving lighting, customer information, disabled access and CCTV coverage.
London Road Developments
London Road has seen its signage and the front of shops changed, as well as, new paving, benches and lowered street parking as part of Croydon’s development story.
… and this is what is coming up
Croydon Council’s £2.78m improvement work will focus on Brigstock Road, before moving on to Whitehorse roundabout, Trumble Gardens then Quadrant Road, outside the library.
Work to the area includes removal of old street furniture, and the installation of new kerbs, paving, trees and seats as well as improvements to buildings and shops along the High Street.
More than £1.4bn will be pumped into Westfield, with an estimated 5000 new jobs to be created. It will also feature key anchor stores, such as M&S and H&M, with more than 300 hundred shops, restaurants and cafes in total. Estimated work is set to start next Easter.
The long-awaited re-opening of Fairfield Halls, our cultural arts centre, is nearly upon us. While it is staying the same location, rumour has it that a seasonal ice rink, street food court and even a microbrewery with a wood-fired oven and craft beers brewed on site are going to be available for us to enjoy. Alongside this, neighbouring schools and colleges will benefit from its refurbishment. There is also of developing outreach programmes for young people and shows for local artists and musicians to perform.
Brick by Brick, the council’s house building company, has been granted planning permission for its first batch of developments. The company aims to provide 1,000 new homes – half of them classed as ‘affordable’ – at smaller sites across the borough by 2019. Locations span Purley, Thornton Heath and Central Croydon.
College Green and Fairfield will be transformed into a vibrant destination for arts, education and culture. The plans include more than 2000 much-needed new homes, various new high-quality public spaces, a brand new college, a 2000 sq metre art gallery, new shops and office space, all with the refurbished Fairfield Halls at its heart.
The new name for the space in between East Croydon Station and Westfield, which will be filled with two million sq ft of offices, shops and homes. In total there will be 1,250,000 sq ft of office accommodation, 625 residential units and 100,000 sq ft of retail, restaurant and leisure.
Got a story? Get in touch samantha.mordi@london.newsquest.co.uk
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