Could East Croydon be redeveloped with more shops built over the top?

[GodAtum]

Croydon Council is reportedly in discussions with Network Rail over plans to redevelop East Croydon station with the potential for an over-station retail site.

Council chief executive Jo Negrini told a London Real Estate Forum panel that she would like to see as much commercial space as possible on the site, including the possibility of retail development over the top of the station.

She said talks with Network Rail had focused on a future upgrade at the borough's main transport interchange, and that commercial space could help fund improvements.

Ms Negrini said: "My gut reaction in terms of East Croydon is to get as much grade-A commercial [space] as we can.

"Our planning policy is very firmly about mixed-use and commercial in and around East Croydon. We've started broaching the subject with Network Rail, in terms of how we start working around that issue [of funding for rail improvements]. I think it's potentially a good option for us to pursue."

Work on several projects surrounding the station is finally coming to fruition after much of the land around the busy station lay empty for decades.

The first residential block in the Ruskin Square development opened late last year, while HM Revenue and Customs is in the process of fitting out its new tax hub in the first office building built as part of the same development.

Boxpark also opened adjacent to the station last October, while hundreds more flats are on the verge of completion as part of the Morello development in Cherry Orchard Road.

Proposals to build two two 25-storey towers providing a further 336, next to the Morello development, are also in the works with a planning application expected from developer Menta to the council next month.

An expansion of East Croydon station itself has been on the cards for several years, as Network Rail looks to remove the bottleneck the station causes on the Brighton Mainline.

A Government study, published in March, confirmed the existence of plans to redevelop East Croydon with two extra platforms between 2019 and 2024.

Council leader Tony Newman has previously called for the station to be redeveloped, and has described it as "not fit for purpose".

Any commercial deal could provide much-needed funding for the redevelopment, after a spokesman for Network Rail admitted in April that funds for the upgrade had not yet been earmarked.

He said: "We are working with stakeholders in the region to develop the plans so that should funding be received, we can crack straight on."

Several redevelopments of tube and rail stations in London have included a shopping mall above or as part of the station in an effort to fund the work.

Read more at http://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/...0410029-detail/story.html#QtAG4l6xW6pjx8zQ.99

I don't see the point unless Southern get their act together. During the strikes last year, Boxpark businesses lost a lot of revenue from what I heard.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Oh dear, a new New St

 

[Deepgreen]

I don't see the point unless Southern get their act together. During the strikes last year, Boxpark businesses lost a lot of revenue from what I heard.

The plans are already in place to provide a very large over-site development and provide eight platforms at East Croydon. Plan shows a start in 2019 and completion in 2026. Funding not necessarily allocated yet, but it is programmed into the general sequence of upgrade works.

 

[GodAtum]

The plans are already in place to provide a very large over-site development and provide eight platforms at East Croydon. Plan shows a start in 2019 and completion in 2026. Funding not necessarily allocated yet, but it is programmed into the general sequence of upgrade works.

But if there are no trains running, there will not be many customers!

 

[tsr]

Bar something absolutely catastrophic happening, above and beyond strikes, bad press etc., I can't see any option other than to consider seriously expanding East Croydon. I don't think it is realistic to say there won't be many passengers!

 

[GodAtum]

Hopefully this might have the impetus to Southern to improve their service

 

[Dr Hoo]

Shops (specifically) seem so last millennium.

Commercial development yes, but not necessarily retail.

 

[Ianno87]

Oh dear, a new New St

Fantastic way of potentially helping to pay for an expanded station (and extra capacity) though...

 

[yorkie]

But if there are no trains running, there will not be many customers!

Most GTR customers have no alternative option.

Hopefully this might have the impetus to Southern to improve their service

I don't see how this will make any difference to GTR (if they still have the franchise by the time it's finished)

Expansion has to happen - of that there can be no doubt. It may be more viable if to expand if they can develop retail opportunities. As long as it's done in a way that fully benefits passengers I don't see a problem. I am sure the lessons from the 1960s have been learnt.

 

[cjmillsnun]

Hopefully this might have the impetus to Southern to improve their service

In other news, there is a squadron of pigs lined up on the runway at Gatwick Airport

 

[edwin_m]

Oh dear, a new New St

At least nearly everything is electric. Where this has happened at electrified London termini it doesn't seem anywhere near as unpleasant as New Street.

 

[Bletchleyite]

At least nearly everything is electric. Where this has happened at electrified London termini it doesn't seem anywhere near as unpleasant as New Street.

True, it's the filthy DMUs that make New St particularly nasty.

 

[Busaholic]

Shops (specifically) seem so last millennium.

Commercial development yes, but not necessarily retail.

Croydon is a monument to the greed of retail developers, the huge, half-empty, Centrale Shopping Centre as a pinnacle. Way too many shops, even the Whitgift Centre is going downhill rapidly.

 

[Class 170101]

Oh dear, a new New St

Fantastic way of potentially helping to pay for an expanded station (and extra capacity) though...

At least nearly everything is electric. Where this has happened at electrified London termini it doesn't seem anywhere near as unpleasant as New Street.

True, it's the filthy DMUs that make New St particularly nasty.

I actually think the lack of natural light at New Street doesn't help either. Providing those mistakes aren't repeated at East Croydon it could be a good thing. However......

 

[Mikey C]

At least nearly everything is electric. Where this has happened at electrified London termini it doesn't seem anywhere near as unpleasant as New Street.

A good incentive to electrify the Uckfield line

 

[rj90]

Huge redevelopment planned including complete remodel of all the grade separation, and 2 new platforms. Oversite development not yet decided but obviously it would help pay for the scheme.

Planned start in 2022 but thats a stretch in my book, its only at GRIP2. You would hope that NR get a main contractor on board for ECI for both the rail and civil works, will save tens of millions in the long run.

 

[maniacmartin]

Croydon already has loads of empty retail and office space. What it needs is more housing. I'm not in favour of building on top of the station as built over stations tend to be grim places to interchange, devoid of natural light.