West Croydon makeover planned

  Croydon council and the London Development Agency are working up a masterplan for a major retail and leisure development around West Croydon station.   The council said it planned to seek a design team for the south London project within the next six months. The plans have been unlocked after the LDA agreed to provide undisclosed financing for the project.   The masterplan will focus on several acres of land in multiple ownership, stretching from Network Rail’s West Croydon station through to the Marks & Spencer store on North End.   It will also encompass sites including the council-owned bus station.   Croydon council chief executive Jon Rouse said the initiative had been prompted by approaches from several developers eyeing opportunities ahead of the opening of the East London Tube line at West Croydon in June 2010.   Croydon and the LDA will eventually seek a development partner and are planning a mix of university facilities, hotel and conferencing, specialist retail and leisure.   Councillor Tim Pollard, deputy leader and cabinet member for regeneration, said: “West Croydon is the Cinderella of Croydon, but it is a very interesting area. If you turn right from West Croydon station, you pass through about 15 cultures in two blocks.   “We want to retain that cosmopolitanism, to offer something different but complementary to the town centre.”   West Croydon will be the final element in Croydon council’s newly forged four-point drive to regenerate the town.   The first priority is the council’s £450m urban regeneration vehicle with John Laing.   paul.norman@rbi.co.uk