Public spaces, culture and inward investment are among the projects that will benefit from £7.2m of additional investment after the Growth Zone budget and programme for 2024/25 was set by Croydon Council’s cabinet on Wednesday this week.
The regeneration and renewal of Croydon town centre is a priority for Executive Mayor Jason Perry, who is driving forward change through a series of major projects, and improvements to change the look and feel of the town.
Cabinet reviewed a report charting the progress of the town centre regeneration, including: the development of the Council’s Town Centre regeneration strategy; the re-introduction of the Town Centre Advisory Board; working with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) as it develops its masterplan for the Whitgift and Centrale shopping centre area; and the provisional award of £18.5m from the government’s Levelling Up Fund for the Reconnected Croydon programme.
Cabinet also approved the budget-setting of the Growth Zone priorities for 2024-25. Growth Zone funding, which is raised by retaining business rates, enables essential improvements to be made to Croydon’s public spaces and culture for the benefit of residents, businesses and visitors.
The projects are delivered by the council with the support of partners, the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Transport for London (TfL) and the annual funding is ring-fenced for 16 years.
Major projects to benefit this year include, Minster Green and improvement to public and green spaces, transport infrastructure improvements, the development of the Urban Room engagement project, exhibitions and programmes at the Museum of Croydon and a wider project to create cultural legacy for Croydon to continue beyond its year as London Borough of Culture.
The Minster Green project will renew the open spaces close to the historic Croydon Minster building in Croydon’s Old Town, with improvements to the parking, green spaces, play areas and lighting. The project is at the latter stages of the design phase and the council will be sharing these with residents and businesses before renovations start later this year.
“The regeneration of the town centre is a priority for me – I am determined to invest in the much-needed infrastructure and improved public and green spaces for our town centre, to make Croydon a place where we can all feel proud to live, work and visit.
“Croydon has benefited from the investment through Growth Zone projects and with a busy programme of projects planned for the coming year, supported by this £7.2m investment, we look forward to driving forward the renewal of our town centre through this partnership.”
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon
