Croydon’s North End is set to see lots of changes as Allders is set to reopen with brand-new shops and restaurants.

This comes following a deal Croydon Council has made with developers Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW).

The upcoming changes will focus on improving safety, security and cleaning.

This will involve removing the Wellesley Road Subway and replacing it with a surface-level crossing.

There will be a series of exciting cultural events and some of the landmark Allders building will be brought back into use with five new shops and restaurants.

The regeneration of the town centre is a priority for Executive Mayor Jason Perry, as set out in the Mayor’s Business Plan.

Mayor Perry has been working closely with URW to bring forward the redevelopment of the Whitgift & Centrale shopping centres and secure much-needed improvements for everyone who lives, works and visits the town centre.

The areas of focus are:

  • North End activities – pop-ups, installations and performances to create a vibrant and varied shopping and leisure experience in the town centre and help to reduce antisocial behaviour.
  • Allders – URW will revitalise elements of Croydon’s historic department store with new food offers and shops for the community on the ground floor.
  • Safety, security and cleaning – a programme of initiatives aimed at reducing crime and antisocial behaviour.
  • Public engagement – the lease of the space in the Whitgift Centre to Croydon Urban Room, a hub for exhibitions, workshops and events all about the town centre regeneration.
  • Connectivity - a contribution towards the design and build of a level crossing across Wellesley Road, near Lansdowne Road and the closure of the Subway in this location.

URW are currently developing their masterplan framework for the area of land they own in the town centre, ahead of the submission of a new major planning application.

It is anticipated that this will include a wide range of uses such as retail, restaurants, commercial and leisure, as well as new homes.

A date for when these changes are projected to be complete has not yet been set.

On Wednesday, a document will be discussed by the cabinet.

It talks about a £6 million plan that Croydon Council wants to approve with URW.

This plan includes doing development projects and giving money to the council.

This is to make up for the delay in renovating the shopping centre.

The money will help local shops, restaurants, and businesses.

The projects will also continue the cultural activities from when Croydon was the London Borough of Culture.

Croydon Council has been working with residents, businesses and community groups to develop its regeneration strategy, which will create a vision for a vibrant town centre that meets the needs of the community.

Events have been held over the past year and will continue this autumn.

Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon, said: “The Council is using all its powers to drive forward our town centre regeneration, from bidding for external funding to doing everything we can to encourage and bring forward the redevelopment of the Whitgift Centre and other key town centre sites.

“This £6m of funding from the Council’s agreement with URW will bring immediate improvements to North End, whilst we work with them to shape the longer-term plans for the town centre, that will make it a vibrant, successful place of which we can all be proud.”