Given the prediction that by 2018 internet shopping could account for half of Britain's £300BN a year retail market, why is that Croydon Council and its friends in the property development companies are still pushing ahead with plans to build another shopping centre in Croydon?
Given the dismal failure that is Centrale, I would have thought that they would had learned their lesson by now.
The centre of Croydon does not need more shops, bars or restaurants. It needs people to actually live there when night falls, in other words we need housing in the centre of Croydon that will provide the engine for the regeneration of the local economy and the environment.
Unfortunately, the council and the developers lack the long term vision to see this.
Showing posts with label Centrale. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Centrale. Show all posts
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Centrale
It seems that the ludicrously named waste of space of a shopping centre, Centrale, is to experiecne something of a makeover in order to attract more shoppers.
The "makeover" will in effect be nothing more than adding some coloured lights to the outside.
A few problems with this:
1 Centrale is shut at night
2 Around 50% of Centrale's retail units are empty
3 The shoppers who use Croydon are not so stupid as to be attracted to Centrale, merely by the addition of a few coloured lights. Empty retail units are the issue, not the lighting.
4 The only shop worth visiting within Centrale is House of Fraser. This in itself is showing significant signs of decline, as the food hall has now lost its fresh vegetable counter and the fish counter. Clearly they are not making any money.
5 Centrale is located near the very run down area of West Croydon, where no one wants to be near or go (least of all at night time). Until that part of town is regenerated, anything placed within spitting distance will be negatively impacted by the decay.
Those in charge of "planning" the development of Croydon have lost the plot. Croydon currently projects a downmarket, tacky and third rate image.
People are not the slightest bit interested in coming to Croydon to shop, as they know they will be greeted by the sight of decay and squalor (eg Dingwall Road) and lack of quality shops/amenities (look how far Allders has declined in the last few years, that shop is now a joke).
The solution being proposed by Croydon Council, and their "trusted" associates in the property development companies, is that we have a third shopping centre built in Croydon.
They don't get it, do they?
Until the problems of the decay and squalor that are eroding Croydon town centre are addressed, shopping centres such as Centrale will remain empty and neglected.
The "makeover" will in effect be nothing more than adding some coloured lights to the outside.
A few problems with this:
1 Centrale is shut at night
2 Around 50% of Centrale's retail units are empty
3 The shoppers who use Croydon are not so stupid as to be attracted to Centrale, merely by the addition of a few coloured lights. Empty retail units are the issue, not the lighting.
4 The only shop worth visiting within Centrale is House of Fraser. This in itself is showing significant signs of decline, as the food hall has now lost its fresh vegetable counter and the fish counter. Clearly they are not making any money.
5 Centrale is located near the very run down area of West Croydon, where no one wants to be near or go (least of all at night time). Until that part of town is regenerated, anything placed within spitting distance will be negatively impacted by the decay.
Those in charge of "planning" the development of Croydon have lost the plot. Croydon currently projects a downmarket, tacky and third rate image.
People are not the slightest bit interested in coming to Croydon to shop, as they know they will be greeted by the sight of decay and squalor (eg Dingwall Road) and lack of quality shops/amenities (look how far Allders has declined in the last few years, that shop is now a joke).
The solution being proposed by Croydon Council, and their "trusted" associates in the property development companies, is that we have a third shopping centre built in Croydon.
They don't get it, do they?
Until the problems of the decay and squalor that are eroding Croydon town centre are addressed, shopping centres such as Centrale will remain empty and neglected.
Monday, October 02, 2006
As Others See Us
I have been giving advice to someone in New York, who is due to visit Croydon soon, as to where the best places are to go in Croydon.
Here is what she said about Croydon's image on the web:
"Croydon has a lousy website and is of no use to tourists."
I thought that Croydon had a professional group of people who are paid to market Croydon to the rest of the world.
It seems that they are failing.
It is hardly surprising that Croydon is not the destination of choice of either tourist or shopper. The woefully underoccupied Centrale bears testimony to the failings of Croydon to market itself as a popular and vibrant shopping venue.
It is ironic that the lady from New York decided to ask me for advice.
Here is what she said about Croydon's image on the web:
"Croydon has a lousy website and is of no use to tourists."
I thought that Croydon had a professional group of people who are paid to market Croydon to the rest of the world.
It seems that they are failing.
It is hardly surprising that Croydon is not the destination of choice of either tourist or shopper. The woefully underoccupied Centrale bears testimony to the failings of Croydon to market itself as a popular and vibrant shopping venue.
It is ironic that the lady from New York decided to ask me for advice.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Another Shopping Centre - Lucky Us!
The Croydon Guardian reports that Lend Lease Corporation Limited has entered into a deal with developer Minerva, to build the 200M shopping centre.
The centre which will front Katharine Street will have 130 stores, and will be Croydon's third and largest shopping centre.
Given the fact that Centrale is still half empty of shops, and indeed of customers, I wonder precisely what is the logic behind the Council's thinking that we need yet another souless shopping centre here.
The centre which will front Katharine Street will have 130 stores, and will be Croydon's third and largest shopping centre.
Given the fact that Centrale is still half empty of shops, and indeed of customers, I wonder precisely what is the logic behind the Council's thinking that we need yet another souless shopping centre here.
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
A Green Shoot?
My compliments to House of Fraser for placing their store in Centrale.
Croydon has been in need of a decent store for some time now; other stores have been dumbing down, as wealthier shoppers are put off coming to Croydon by the decay and dereliction that is destroying the town.
Hopefully the influx of money, that House of Fraser may generate, may hold back the wasteland that is encroaching on the North End.
That being said, Centrale is still very empty of stores; I wonder quite how many shopping centres Croydon actually needs?
Croydon has been in need of a decent store for some time now; other stores have been dumbing down, as wealthier shoppers are put off coming to Croydon by the decay and dereliction that is destroying the town.
Hopefully the influx of money, that House of Fraser may generate, may hold back the wasteland that is encroaching on the North End.
That being said, Centrale is still very empty of stores; I wonder quite how many shopping centres Croydon actually needs?
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