Croydon Council has agreed a funding agreement with Network Rail that paves the way to open the pedestrian through route at the East Croydon Station bridge – a major boost in connectivity for the town centre.

The bridge links the east and west sides of the station and, once work is complete, it will be fully open to pedestrians at both ends for the first time. This will give Addiscombe residents and beyond a direct route into the town centre, as well as provide commuters and visitors with an easy, fully accessible way to get around.

The Council has been working with Network Rail and developer Menta Regeneration to agree how the eastern entrance will be completed and how the bridge will be maintained in the future. Menta Regeneration is the developer for The Blossoms development on Cherry Orchard Road, which connects to the bridge via a public square.

Funding agreements between the three partners have now been finalised. All the necessary planning approvals are in place, meaning Network Rail’s contractor is expected to begin work this summer.

Opening the bridge will be an important milestone in improving how people move around East Croydon and supports Executive Mayor Jason Perry’s wider plans to regenerate the town centre and attract inward investment.

There are 10 projects benefitting from a £40m programme, led by Mayor Perry, to make Croydon more welcoming, better connected and easier to navigate. These include the opening of a new street-level crossing in Wellesley Road, and closure of the pedestrian subway, and major upgrades in Dingwall Road, with smoother pavement surfaces and more welcoming seating areas, a redesigned layout and safer crossings.

George Street has also had new paving and improvements to crossings, and a new motorcycle parking near the junction with Dingwall Road to help keep delivery drivers off the pavement.

Network Rail Sussex Route Director Lucy McAuliffe said: “We’re pleased to have reached this milestone, working in partnership with Croydon Council and Menta Regeneration. This new eastern pedestrian route will greatly improve accessibility and connectivity in the area, and we look forward to bringing these long‑awaited benefits into use for Croydon residents and our customers.

“Reaching this point has taken longer than we would have liked, and we appreciate the continued patience of residents and passengers throughout. I’m really pleased that collectively, we are now able to proceed into the delivery phase ahead of completion in 2027.”

Craig Marks, CEO Menta regeneration, said: “We are delighted that the new pedestrian bridge will soon open to the public. We have delivered over 850 new and affordable homes and transformed Cherry Orchard Road into a tree-lined boulevard, which will complement our new public square when it’s open to the public later this year.

“We are thankful to the residents of Addiscombe for their patience whilst this major investment and commitment to the wider community is finally completed with the opening of the bridge, working collaboratively with Croydon Council and Network Rail.”

“This is a major milestone and we’re looking forward to opening this important new route for local people and visitors. It’s another positive step in the regeneration of our town centre – we are improving accessibility, connectivity and making Croydon a more vibrant place that our residents and businesses can be proud to call home.

“The Council supports a fully accessible station entrance on both sides and is continuing to work with its partners on behalf of residents and businesses.”

Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon