THE long-awaited start of work on a 750-home town centre development is expected in the next few weeks.

The announcement from Berkeley Homes follows agreement from Croydon Council's strategic planning committee that changes can be made to the time-scale for providing affordable homes as part of the overall development.

Berkeley is including some affordable housing in the development but a larger amount of its required quota is being built offsite in other locations around the borough.

The council's decision means the phasing of this offsite work has been changed, easing the immediate financial pressures and making it easier for Berkeley to make a start on the main project. Planning permission for the development was granted in 2007 and involves building a 44-storey tower.

Smaller housing blocks will also be built on the site of the now-demolished Randolph and Pembroke House office blocks in Wellesley Road. The development will contain 755 flats and 2,080 square metres of offices and shops.

Since the demolition of the old buildings, no work has taken place and at the height of the financial crisis last year Berkeley announced the development was on hold because of the difficulties of selling new homes.

However, with signs of a recovery, a spokesman for the company said: "Berkeley Homes is delighted to confirm its intention to commence works on its Saffron Square project in mid-August."

In reaction, Jason Perry, Croydon Council's cabinet member for planning, said: "This is good news because the development is an important part of the regeneration of the town.

"The site has been a mess for years and it will be good to get, at last, a very high-quality development there."