London Mayor approves £1.4bn Westfield shopping centre

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has approved plans to build £1.4bn Westfield shopping centre in Croydon, UK.

This follows the approval of Croydon Council’s planning committee granted in November last year.

The redevelopment of Croydon’s Whitgift shopping centre will be carried out by the Croydon Partnership. This is a joint venture between UK property developers Westfield and Hammerson.

The project includes the development of 967 new build-to-rent homes. Out of the new homes, 20% will be offered at below-market rent levels. The majority will be at the London Living Rent.

Sadiq Khan said: “This development will play a key role in unlocking the borough’s potential and is set to deliver huge economic benefits to residents and businesses in the borough.

“As well as the creation of 7,000 jobs and the delivery of almost 1,000 new homes, it will also attract many visitors to its brand new leisure facilities and public spaces. I’m confident the benefits of this scheme will be felt for generations to come.”

The redevelopment will also include construction of more than 500,000m² of new shops, restaurants and space for future student accommodation or a hotel.

Construction work on the shopping centre is due to begin in 2019.