Croydon Council abandons agreement to build new shopping centre
By Andrew Worden
newsdesk@essnmedia.co.uk
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ABANDONED: How the Park Place development could have looked
Croydon Council is ending its development agreement with Minerva relating to the proposed Park Place retail scheme.
The council is exercising its right to give 10 days notice of the termination after it says it became clear the developer would be unable to bring forward a scheme in line with the planning permission granted five years ago - which has now expired.
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A council statement released this morning (Tuesday) said: "As a routine safeguard, the council entered into a deed of indemnity and development agreement with Minerva in December 2004 so as to ensure all costs involved in supporting the Park Place scheme and making a compulsory purchase order required for land assembly, would be covered by the developer.
"Under the terms of the agreement Minerva was required to submit a strategy for securing funding.
"With the planning permission for the scheme having lapsed on May 7 and Minerva failing to replace Lend Lease who pulled out of the project last year the council considers there is no viable scheme for the site and therefore the CPO granted in March 2007 cannot be implemented by next year's statutory deadline.
"In these circumstances it believes it has had no option but to give the developer notice of termination.
"Rather than prolong the inactivity that has blighted the site for so long, the council now intends drawing up a revised strategy for the site which will include attracting John Lewis to the town centre.
"It is hoped that a new CPO will not be necessary but this will be a fall back position when a new development partner is in place.
The Park Place scheme was intended to cover an area bounded by Park Lane, Katharine Street, High Street, North End and George Street.
It also includes the Allders store in North End and a few additional buildings north of George Street
John Lewis was hoped to be the anchor tenant for the retail centre.
Comments
by dave, croydon
Monday, May 18 2009, 11:43PM
“Thats such a shame, Croydon really could do with another shopping centre half full of empty shops
What Croydon needs is a Zoo, or at least a chav fence to keep the local kids locked in”
by Diana, Croydon
Friday, May 15 2009, 3:24PM
“Minerva have blighted a large area of our town for several years now. At last we can start to look forward, but the damage may be too great. Perhaps Croydon could take a look at Brighton's thriving and vibrant North Laine and encourage small businesses to bring George Street and St. George's to life - or will landlords leave it to rot rather than accept realistic rents. Croydon could offer a business rates holiday to these shops and start-up loans, and perhaps set up an antique or arts market - anything would help, but it needs to be up-market enough to attract visitors who can afford to pay for the car parking.”
by observer, north croydon
Wednesday, May 13 2009, 3:36PM
“Why did it take so long to tell us what we all knew? That Park Place was just an expensive pipe dream that would never come to fruition.
Now for the difficult bit - there is more than a great need to revitalise this part of town to something a little more than a run down cut through - if shops are to come back there needs to be a real refurbishment - not a tart up job for St Georges Walk and a real effort from the planners to integrate it with the main shopping malls in the centre. A difficult but necessary job, if we are trying to halt more decline, of our main shopping centre, in the Borough - some innovative thinking is called for and now!”
by Brian the Brain, ..
Tuesday, May 12 2009, 7:25PM
“naughty Croydon you don't deserve it tough bleeding luck shouldn't be so rough.”
by TrojanVirus83, Croydonistan
Tuesday, May 12 2009, 4:49PM
“No treats for you croydon.
Naughty, naughty, very naughty town.”
by Wally, ex cro boy
Tuesday, May 12 2009, 2:12PM
“Diana your so welcome , and coming from Thornton Heath i'm sure you would know all about education & taxes my ar**.”
by Diane, Thornton Heath
Tuesday, May 12 2009, 1:43PM
“Thank you Wally for your incisive contribution to the debate. Glad to see my taxes haven't been wasted on education.”
by Wally, ex cro boy
Tuesday, May 12 2009, 1:20PM
“Haa haaa!!! good you lot don't deserve a nice place so now you aint getting it tough eh?”
by David, Croydon
Tuesday, May 12 2009, 12:59PM
“As mentioned previously, one of the biggest issues in Croydon is the massive rents required from shop owners. They are so high that it is very difficult to make a profit.
I'd like to think that Croydon's problems will be fixed and it will become a great place to live, but every new development seems to be stalled or fail. Look at the drawn out Stanhope vs Croydon arena farce.”
by ANNE, SELSDON
Tuesday, May 12 2009, 12:49PM
“Croydon is a great place. I will always shop there. Apparently, the shops in St. George's Walk are coming back, so the owners of the Madeira Delicatessen tell me.”