Planning expansion expected at Centrale Croydon

A detailed planning application to expand and redevelop the Centrale shopping centre in Croydon has been submitted for consideration, it was revealed today. Property company Hammerson, which bought the south London retail

destination in March 2011, hopes to redesign a “significant section” of the inside of the centre.

Lawrence Hutchings, Hammerson’s Managing Director of UK Retail, said: “There has been significant underinvestment in Croydon’s retail core for some time with major brands missing from the town’s retail mix. Croydon has one of the highest catchment spends in the UK and our proposals will deliver well designed space creating a new prime pitch for the town.”

The centre currently spreads over 696,400 sq ft of space comprising of 80 retail units, with Debenhams & House of Fraser acting as anchor tenants.

Hammerson is not the first retail property specialist to identify the potential of Croydon as a shopping destination, with Australian based real estate firm Westfield announcing plans for a major shopping centre in the town last October.

Hutchings continued: “There is a massive opportunity to put Croydon back on the map with both retailers and consumers and we want Centrale to lead this transformation.”