There appears to be a consultation exercise going on in Croydon at the moment, wrt plans for Wellesley Road etc.
Go to the library and ask for a copy of the Summary and Comment form, the last date for comment and feedback is 14th April.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Park Place Collapse
It looks like the Park Place development scheme has collapsed (or rather is going to collapse).
How many years has the council (both Labour and Tory) tried to kid us that this development would ever happen?
Who seriously believed that this scheme would ever get off the ground?
How many other development schemes touted by the council are going to fail to get off the ground?
The failure of Croydon council to plan effectively has led to the degradation and decay of the area designated for the development, eg St George's Walk. Local businesses, such as Turtle's, have been under threat of closure because of this scheme.
In May 2005 I wrote that:
"Turtle's, one of Croydon's best known independent stores, is searching for new premises after compulsory purchase orders were issued to acquire the land for the £500M Park Place shopping centre."
In February 2005 I wrote about Minerva funding Croydon Council's fight against the Whitgift shopping centre expansion plans proposed by Minerva's rivals, who own the Whitgift. I stated then that this must surely raise reservations about the council's independence.
Interestingly, John Prescott crushed the rival scheme in March 2006; Andrew Rosenfeld (owner of Minerva) having loaned £1M to Labour.
According to The Times:
"Prescott killed the rival scheme, put forward by a consortium called Whitgift, by rejecting its appeal against an earlier refusal by inspectors to give it planning permission."
Prescott denied this and another allegation. Prescott confirmed that he had received the planning applications, but said he felt the decisions should be made locally.
"I passed it over to Croydon and (the other application) City of London Corporation.
They made the decision, not me."
It is time that the council stopped kowtowing to the developers, and asserted a robust and coherent development policy that served the interests of the people who actually live and work in Croydon.
How many years has the council (both Labour and Tory) tried to kid us that this development would ever happen?
Who seriously believed that this scheme would ever get off the ground?
How many other development schemes touted by the council are going to fail to get off the ground?
The failure of Croydon council to plan effectively has led to the degradation and decay of the area designated for the development, eg St George's Walk. Local businesses, such as Turtle's, have been under threat of closure because of this scheme.
In May 2005 I wrote that:
"Turtle's, one of Croydon's best known independent stores, is searching for new premises after compulsory purchase orders were issued to acquire the land for the £500M Park Place shopping centre."
In February 2005 I wrote about Minerva funding Croydon Council's fight against the Whitgift shopping centre expansion plans proposed by Minerva's rivals, who own the Whitgift. I stated then that this must surely raise reservations about the council's independence.
Interestingly, John Prescott crushed the rival scheme in March 2006; Andrew Rosenfeld (owner of Minerva) having loaned £1M to Labour.
According to The Times:
"Prescott killed the rival scheme, put forward by a consortium called Whitgift, by rejecting its appeal against an earlier refusal by inspectors to give it planning permission."
Prescott denied this and another allegation. Prescott confirmed that he had received the planning applications, but said he felt the decisions should be made locally.
"I passed it over to Croydon and (the other application) City of London Corporation.
They made the decision, not me."
It is time that the council stopped kowtowing to the developers, and asserted a robust and coherent development policy that served the interests of the people who actually live and work in Croydon.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Diamonds In The Sky
"A bid to transform Croydon's skyline with four new diamond shaped skyscrapers will be officially launched at a property festival in Cannes."
An interesting idea, but I shall believe it when I see it!
Here is an artist's impression of the plans:
An interesting idea, but I shall believe it when I see it!
Here is an artist's impression of the plans:
Monday, February 25, 2008
Taking The Piss?
I see that The Guardian (the broadsheet not the local rag) notes that Croydon has "improved no end".
Are they taking the piss?
Are they taking the piss?
Monday, February 11, 2008
Thinking Big
I am pleased to see that there are finally plans to build on the derelict eyesore which is on the former Randolph and Pembroke House site in Wellesley Road.
This has been a rotting scab on Croydon's landscape since the two buildings were demolished in 1993, and has been featured on this site back in February 2004.
Berkeley Homes have had their plans approved by Croydon Council to build a 44-storey tower and a development that will see a total of 739 flats built across five blocks.
The question is, will companies come to Croydon and use this 44 storey tower?
Monday, February 04, 2008
Of Mice and Men
As the old saying goes "the best laid plans of mice and men..."
This most certainly is the case for the plans for the Park Place development, which have been gathering dust for years now.
Allegedly, the plan is to "regenerate Croydon town centre" (how often do developers and Croydon council use that phrase?), by amongst other things knocking down St George's Walk.
However, despite the developers and the council "talking big" for years about these plans, nothing yet has happened or looks like happening anytime soon.
The Croydon Guardian reports:
"Work was due to start in spring but Minerva and Lend Lease have still not secured an anchor tenant.
St George's Walk is under a compulsory purchase order and was originally set to be demolished late last year.
But it now looks as though it will still be open in 2009 and traders say they are fed up with not getting any answers from their landlord, Minerva."
Meanwhile St George's Walk is rotting.
A cynic might suggest that the plan is to allow the area to rot away to nothing, then force the council to accept a second rate tenant and a third rate development.
Why should the citizens of Croydon be treated in this manner by their council?
This most certainly is the case for the plans for the Park Place development, which have been gathering dust for years now.
Allegedly, the plan is to "regenerate Croydon town centre" (how often do developers and Croydon council use that phrase?), by amongst other things knocking down St George's Walk.
However, despite the developers and the council "talking big" for years about these plans, nothing yet has happened or looks like happening anytime soon.
The Croydon Guardian reports:
"Work was due to start in spring but Minerva and Lend Lease have still not secured an anchor tenant.
St George's Walk is under a compulsory purchase order and was originally set to be demolished late last year.
But it now looks as though it will still be open in 2009 and traders say they are fed up with not getting any answers from their landlord, Minerva."
Meanwhile St George's Walk is rotting.
A cynic might suggest that the plan is to allow the area to rot away to nothing, then force the council to accept a second rate tenant and a third rate development.
Why should the citizens of Croydon be treated in this manner by their council?
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