Retail giant John Lewis is coming to Croydon town centre as part of a £5.25 billion development project, it has been announced.

Plans have been confirmed for the department story to occupy a 165,000 square ft space in the new town centre, which is being developed by Westfield and Hammerson.

The bottom floor of the store will be occupied by John Lewis's supermarket counterpart, Waitrose.

When the development of the town centre is completed, it is expected to offer 300 new shops, restaurants, leisure facilities and a multi-screen cinema complex.

There are also plans to build another 1,000 homes in the centre. Overall, developers hope to offer 7,000 new jobs in the area.

Cllr Tony Newman, leader of Croydon Council, hailed the announcement as "great news" for the borough.

He said: John Lewis and Waitrose’s commitment to be part of the £1.4bn redevelopment of The Whitgift Shopping Centre demonstrates their confidence in Croydon’s regeneration, its infrastructure and its growth and most importantly, as a place that people want to be.

"We look forward to work starting on Croydon’s new world-class retail and leisure development next year and the wealth of offerings this will bring to local people, and to welcoming John Lewis to our town centre.”

Construction on the redevelopment is expected to begin in 2019.