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Exclusive: Doubts over Park Place's future after offices leased
7:12am Wednesday 6th February 2008
Comments (18)There are fresh fears over the Park Place project after new leases were offered for spaces in a building which was set to be knocked down to make way for the £500million shopping centre.
Tenants in the huge Park Street office block were forced to move out last year as work on the shopping centre was due to start in spring.
“We will be even happier to see some certainty about a timetable regarding the Park Place development."
Councillor Tim Pollard
But the council and Croydon Business are now offering temporary space to new businesses at knockdown rates.
A plan to launch an "enterprise centre" on the fourth floor of the building was agreed at a meeting of the Croydon Enterprise Advisory Board last week.
Chief executive of Croydon Business, Brian Stapleton, said: "When I took over as chief executive of Croydon Business last September I approached Minerva and Lend Lease who own Park House to see if they would allow me to use the temporary vacant offices to help start-up companies."
The companies agreed to the move and have let premises for minimal rents.
Croydon Business Venture (CBV), which is managing the space, said it has had interest from several organisations.
The expected opening is March - the month that demolition was originally set to take place for the Park Place scheme.
Councillor Tim Pollard, cabinet member for finance, said: "Pending the developers realising their intentions for Park Place, the council wants to see the most effective use possible made of the current unoccupied premises and office space.
"We will be even happier to see some certainty about a timetable regarding the Park Place development. This will be a massive investment for the town centre and we are looking forward to the developers making visible progress.
"In the meantime, finding alternative temporary uses for the current property is far preferable to being left with an empty-fenced site in the town centre."
Your Say YourCroydon Guardian
Timothy Godfrey, Croydon says...
12:55am Thu 7 Feb 08
Poor Surrey Street Market is suffering. Allders is ignored by the Council. Countless units are empty on the High Street and North End.
Real gloom for retail in Croydon.
Meanwhile Croydon Council sits back and does nothing apart from 'wait for a new planning application' from Minerva.
That will be the Minerva who now own the swathe of Croydon from the Town Hall to the Whitgift. The Minerva who has benefited from the Council CPO. The Same Minerva that has seen its share price collapse from 400 pence a year ago to 132 today?
If the council does not do something soon it will find a massive chunk of retail space Just boarded up.
A very sad state to have got the Town in to.
ANNE GILES, SELSDON says...
10:39pm Fri 8 Feb 08
Croyboy, says...
3:02pm Sat 9 Feb 08
...it has a wonderful, Continental feel about it
I think the phrase is "Third World" rather than "Continental". But of course, if that's what you're used to...
And I'm afraid I'd willingly forego a "decent "espresso" along with the undoubted delights of Spanish, Indian, Mexican, Italian, and Argentine restaurants, if it meant I could have my country back.
ARABELLA HAMILTON FORTESCUE, SELSDON says...
3:44pm Sat 9 Feb 08
Uncleboko, Selsdon says...
3:58pm Sat 9 Feb 08
Croyboy wrote:That is your narrow minded view, it is very sad to say. A great number of folks would not agree with you at all. You would prefer a nice hot cup of tea then?
ANNE GILES wrote of Croydon:...it has a wonderful, Continental feel about itI think the phrase is "Third World" rather than "Continental". But of course, if that's what you're used to... And I'm afraid I'd willingly forego a "decent "espresso" along with the undoubted delights of Spanish, Indian, Mexican, Italian, and Argentine restaurants, if it meant I could have my country back.
ANNE GILES, SELSDON says...
4:07pm Sat 9 Feb 08
Croyboy, says...
5:09pm Sun 10 Feb 08
ARABELLA HAMILTON FORTESCUE wrote:Perhaps, Arabella (If I might be so familiar!) & Uncleboko, some of us consider matters gastronomique to take second place to surrendering one's country and culture. To slightly misquote the latter of the two addressed "That is a narrow minded view, it is very sad to say".
Croyboy - I can't believe you would prefer weak "builders'" coffee with loads of milk in a mug and greasy fish and chips covered with vinegar rather than decent food and drink. How could you possibly prefer shaven headed English brutes with earringed ears, covered in tattoos and sporting their delightful pot bellied beer guts to the lovely, educated people who have at last come to live in this country??
Get your minds out of your stomachs, and lift up your eyes - although I appreciate that might be difficult if you're used to being on your knees.
ARABELLA HAMILTON FORTESCUE wrote:
How could you possibly prefer shaven headed English brutes with earringed ears, covered in tattoos and sporting their delightful pot bellied beer guts to the lovely, educated people who have at last come to live in this country??
That appears to assume an awful lot. Are you saying all English people are brutes with tattoos etc.? ...And that all - or even a substantial proportion - of the refugees/immigrants/
asylum-seekers/"stud
ents"/migrant workers who never intend to go home are lovely, educated people?
One more question, if you'll be gracious enough to indulge me: aren't you the slightest bit embarrassed at making such absurd, illogical statements in virtual public?
AUNTIE BOKO, SELSDON says...
9:07pm Sun 10 Feb 08
Croyboy, says...
8:15am Mon 11 Feb 08
AUNTIE BOKO wrote:What "prejudices" are those?
And you are not embarrassed by your prejudices???
Wanting to regain control over my country, you mean?
AUNTIE BOKO, SELSDON says...
11:26am Mon 11 Feb 08
Croyboy, says...
8:27am Tue 12 Feb 08
It's funny, you know: when my relatives were fighting in the two World Wars, they were told it was their country - if not, why the hell risk your life?
...But one question about your definition, if I may: if I went to live in Shanghai tomorrow, would China then be "my" country?
Oh, and a subsidiary one: don't you think the Chinese might have something to say about that?
Croyboy, says...
8:13am Fri 15 Feb 08
...Cat got your tongue?
I.P. STANDING, SOUTH CROYDON says...
4:37pm Sat 16 Feb 08
Croyboy, says...
9:21am Sun 17 Feb 08
She probably doesn't know the answer, Croyboy.
I'm sure she doesn't: the vast majority of completely illiberal "liberals" don't, as they've never really thought anything through - part of this country's sad decline in intellectual independence and the surrender of responsibility and cultural values. (Sharia law, anyone?)
By the way, isn't your Hu Flung Dung comment racist? I hope you're not considering "standing" for parliament!
I.P. FREELY, SELSDON says...
5:42pm Sun 17 Feb 08
Croyboy, says...
9:02am Mon 18 Feb 08
But what a coincidence: you both share the same initials, and write your name(s) along with your place(s) of residence IN ALL CAPITALS!
hu flung dung, china says...
1:02pm Tue 19 Feb 08
New lease of life? Offices have been let out in the Park Street office block, despite it being due for demolition to make way for the Park Place shopping centre Deadlinepix CR19194
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Croyboy, says...
8:44am Wed 6 Feb 08
According to a blurb put out by Minerva a year ago regarding Park Place "A key component of the retail space is the provision of a new full range department store. John Lewis has previously confirmed a requirement for 240,000 sq ft for Croydon and a regional store of this size can only be accommodated on the Park Place site".
However, we're talking about hard-headed businessmen investing a lot of money, and with an appropriate slogan for our town now being "Croydon, Gateway to the Third World", I simply can't see it happening.