Westfield has submitted a pre-application proposal for the redevelopment of Whitgift shopping centre, intensifying the battle of control for Croydon town centre.
The Australian developer proposes to demolish the majority of the buildings on the site of the 633,400 sq ft Whitgift shopping mall with the exceptions of the car park and Marks & Spencer building.
It intends to redevelop the site to comprise 1.3m sq ft of retail, 150,700 sq ft of leisure, including a bowling alley and cinema, and between 400 and 600 homes. Around 4,000 car parking spaces are also proposed.
The plans will go before Croydon council’s planning committee on Thursday. Hammerson will present its own £50m redevelopment plans for neighbouring Centrale shopping centre at the same meeting.
Last November, Westfield teamed up with the Whitgift Foundation, which owns the freehold and 25% of the leasehold of the mall, to redevelop the property.
However, Royal London Asset Management and Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, which together own the remaining 75% of the leasehold and the management of the scheme, appointed Hammerson in April to push through separate development plans.
Jones Lang LaSalle is advising RLAM and IBRC.
annabel.dixon@estatesgazette.com
