Croydon Council has welcomed the news that hundreds of new employees will be based in the new regional office of HM Revenue and Customs at One Ruskin Square, next to East Croydon.
An announcement confirming the move was made this week and is yet another sign of confidence in the town. It follows on the heels of The Body Shop and Superdrug also taking over new and refurbished offices in the area.
The deal means that some 2,500 HMRC employees will occupy the whole 184,000 sq ft building at One Ruskin Square once construction is complete.
“Croydon’s skyline is changing almost daily, and each new office block or apartment building will bring with it the jobs and homes that will breathe new life into the heart of the town. This is coupled with the enormous transformation that the redevelopment of the Whitgift Centre will bring with it – and the new cultural opportunities that will come from the council’s £30m regeneration of the Fairfield Halls.”
Councillor Mark Watson, cabinet member for economy and jobs
The agreement by HMRC to lease the brand new office space includes an option to take double that again in other parts of the £500m development should further expansion plans require it.
David Camp, chief executive of Stanhope, said: “HMRC’s decision is a further vote of confidence in the regeneration and revival of Croydon and Stanhope and Schroder’s creation of an attractive and vibrant destination and sense of arrival at East Croydon station.”
James Lass, fund manager at Scroder UK Real Estate Fund said: “The letting of One Ruskin Square in its entirety, prior to completion, is a strong validation of our strategy to commence development on a speculative basis in Croydon – an emerging part of the London office landscape.”
