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Park Place (Croydon)
Encyclopedia
Park Place was a shopping centre which had been expected to open in Croydon
, England
by 2011, although this date has been pushed back and building has not started. It is part of the Croydon Vision 2020
re-generation scheme. Park Place has been proposed by developers Minerva plc and was given planning approval in 2000 by Croydon Council
after which the Government Office for London decided not to proceed with a call-in in 2003, despite concerns over traffic and the impact upon existing retail. This decision, ultimately by Deputy Prime Minister
John Prescott
, caused controversy in 2006 amidst the Cash for Peerages
political scandal, when it emerged that two of Minerva's previous and current chairmen, Sir David Garrard and Andrew Rosenfeld
, had made major loans to the Labour Party
three months before the decision not to call in the planning application. Prescott denied any wrongdoing.
department store and St George's Walk
. The scheduled commencement date for Park Place is Autumn 2006. Gap, Habitat
, and Borders have expressed their desire to have a store in the centre, with an Apple Store
another potential buyer of a unit.
When completed, the shopping centre development will be of 1080000 sq ft (100,335.3 m²). The development will adjoin and integrate with the existing Whitgift Centre
at its northern end and extend south to Katherine Street. The overall site will take in part of Park Street and cross the western end of George Street via a bridge and tunnel.
It is planned that the existing Grade II listed frontages in George Street, as well as the North End facade of Allders, will be retained.
A compulsory purchase order
by Croydon Council is in the process of being enacted to enable the whole site to come under the ownership of Minerva. A major new department store will be located to the south of the new site; originally this was to be a new Allders store, then owned by Minerva, but John Lewis
was then lined up to anchor the site. On May 5, 2006 John Lewis
announced that no development scheme in Croydon met their requirements and that they were not in negotiations with Minerva. This has boosted the chances of the newco 'Allders (Croydon) Ltd' being able to secure anchor status in the new development if it is pursued.
Nestlé
, whose UK headquarters in the Nestlé Tower
form part of the site, plan to take part of the office accommodation.
The development will create a new 'piazza' on Croydon High Street.
There are proposals to alter Queen's Gardens
with updated planting, an ice rink, a performance space and an entrance into Park Place.
shopping centre development in west London
(White City
) which opened in October 2008 and the existing 1600000 sq ft (148,644.9 m²) shopping development at Bluewater to the south-east of London.
On completion of the centre, Croydon will have approximately 3300000 sq ft (306,580 m²). of space in its three shopping centres.
On 19 March Minerva announced that their deal with Lend Lease had collapsed. Lend Lease were responsible for negotiations with John Lewis.
In May 2008, Croydon Council announced that they did not expect works to start until late 2009, a further delay of some 18 months. A revised planning application was not expected to be tabled until late 2008. Minerva meanwhile was facing speculation of a takeover bid by the Dubai
-based Limitless.
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
by 2011, although this date has been pushed back and building has not started. It is part of the Croydon Vision 2020
Croydon Vision 2020
Croydon Vision 2020 is a regeneration programme by the London Borough of Croydon for the centre of Croydon in South London. The original study was carried out in 1999 by EDAW and is being taken forward through the Local Development Framework process...
re-generation scheme. Park Place has been proposed by developers Minerva plc and was given planning approval in 2000 by Croydon Council
London Borough of Croydon
The London Borough of Croydon is a London borough in South London, England and is part of Outer London. It covers an area of and is the largest London borough by population. It is the southernmost borough of London. At its centre is the historic town of Croydon from which the borough takes its name...
after which the Government Office for London decided not to proceed with a call-in in 2003, despite concerns over traffic and the impact upon existing retail. This decision, ultimately by Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some counties, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, but is significantly different, though both...
John Prescott
John Prescott
John Leslie Prescott, Baron Prescott is a British politician who was Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007. Born in Prestatyn, Wales, he represented Hull East as the Labour Member of Parliament from 1970 to 2010...
, caused controversy in 2006 amidst the Cash for Peerages
Cash for Peerages
Cash for Honours is the name given by some in the media to a political scandal in the United Kingdom in 2006 and 2007 concerning the connection between political donations and the award of life peerages...
political scandal, when it emerged that two of Minerva's previous and current chairmen, Sir David Garrard and Andrew Rosenfeld
Andrew Rosenfeld
Andrew Rosenfeld is a British businessman who was co founder, Chief Executive and Chairman of Minerva plc the FTSE 250 property investment and development Company which was founded with an issued share capital of £70,200. He sold his entire shareholding in Minerva along with other interests and...
, had made major loans to the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
three months before the decision not to call in the planning application. Prescott denied any wrongdoing.
Plans
Minerva plan to build a new shopping centre, office accommodation and a bus station on the site of AlldersAllders
Allders is an independent department store in Croydon, established by Joshua Allder in 1862. It is the fourth-largest department store in the United Kingdom.The Croydon store was the flagship of a large chain of department stores in the UK...
department store and St George's Walk
St George's Walk
St George's Walk is a covered shopping parade in the centre of Croydon, London that houses many independent stores. It was completed in 1964 by Ronald Ward and Partners, the designers of St George's House and Millbank Tower. It runs parallel to the Croydon Clocktower arts facility runs between the...
. The scheduled commencement date for Park Place is Autumn 2006. Gap, Habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
, and Borders have expressed their desire to have a store in the centre, with an Apple Store
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
another potential buyer of a unit.
When completed, the shopping centre development will be of 1080000 sq ft (100,335.3 m²). The development will adjoin and integrate with the existing Whitgift Centre
Whitgift Centre
The Whitgift Centre is a large shopping centre and office development in the centre of Croydon, London, opened in stages between 1968 and 1970. The centre currently comprises of retail space and was the largest covered shopping development in Greater London until the opening of Westfield London at...
at its northern end and extend south to Katherine Street. The overall site will take in part of Park Street and cross the western end of George Street via a bridge and tunnel.
It is planned that the existing Grade II listed frontages in George Street, as well as the North End facade of Allders, will be retained.
A compulsory purchase order
Compulsory purchase order
A compulsory purchase order is a legal function in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland that allows certain bodies which need to obtain land or property to do so without the consent of the owner. It may be enforced if a proposed development is considered one for public betterment - for...
by Croydon Council is in the process of being enacted to enable the whole site to come under the ownership of Minerva. A major new department store will be located to the south of the new site; originally this was to be a new Allders store, then owned by Minerva, but John Lewis
John Lewis Partnership
The John Lewis Partnership is an employee-owned UK partnership which operates John Lewis department stores, Waitrose supermarkets and a number of other services...
was then lined up to anchor the site. On May 5, 2006 John Lewis
John Lewis Partnership
The John Lewis Partnership is an employee-owned UK partnership which operates John Lewis department stores, Waitrose supermarkets and a number of other services...
announced that no development scheme in Croydon met their requirements and that they were not in negotiations with Minerva. This has boosted the chances of the newco 'Allders (Croydon) Ltd' being able to secure anchor status in the new development if it is pursued.
Nestlé
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
, whose UK headquarters in the Nestlé Tower
Nestlé Tower
The Nestlé Tower is a skyscraper located in Croydon, United Kingdom occupied by the multinational food and consumer goods company Nestlé S.A. as their UK headquarters...
form part of the site, plan to take part of the office accommodation.
The development will create a new 'piazza' on Croydon High Street.
There are proposals to alter Queen's Gardens
Queen's Gardens (Croydon)
The Queen's Gardens are a small area of urban gardens in the centre of Croydon, South London. It is part of the Croydon Vision 2020 re-generation plan with Park Place. They are bordered by Croydon Town Hall, Taberner house, Park Lane and Katharine Street....
with updated planting, an ice rink, a performance space and an entrance into Park Place.
Viability
The overall viability of the Minerva plans (1.08 million sq.ft. shopping centre) was thrown into doubt following the building of the 1.615 million sq.ft. Westfield LondonWestfield London
Westfield London is a shopping centre in White City in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. The centre was developed by the Westfield Group at a cost of £1.6bn,...
shopping centre development in west London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(White City
White City, London
White City is a district in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, to the north of Shepherd's Bush. Today, White City is home to the BBC Television Centre and BBC White City, and Loftus Road stadium, the home of football club Queens Park Rangers FC....
) which opened in October 2008 and the existing 1600000 sq ft (148,644.9 m²) shopping development at Bluewater to the south-east of London.
On completion of the centre, Croydon will have approximately 3300000 sq ft (306,580 m²). of space in its three shopping centres.
On 19 March Minerva announced that their deal with Lend Lease had collapsed. Lend Lease were responsible for negotiations with John Lewis.
In May 2008, Croydon Council announced that they did not expect works to start until late 2009, a further delay of some 18 months. A revised planning application was not expected to be tabled until late 2008. Minerva meanwhile was facing speculation of a takeover bid by the Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
-based Limitless.
Termination
In May 2009, Croydon Council announced that it would be ending the development agreement with Minerva. This is after it became apparent that Minerva would not be able to secure funding after Lend Lease Group pulled out of the project.See also
- AlldersAlldersAllders is an independent department store in Croydon, established by Joshua Allder in 1862. It is the fourth-largest department store in the United Kingdom.The Croydon store was the flagship of a large chain of department stores in the UK...
- Centrale
- Whitgift CentreWhitgift CentreThe Whitgift Centre is a large shopping centre and office development in the centre of Croydon, London, opened in stages between 1968 and 1970. The centre currently comprises of retail space and was the largest covered shopping development in Greater London until the opening of Westfield London at...
- Other Park PlacePark PlacePark Place may refer to:Canada:* Park Place , a park in the city of Barrie* Park Place , a skyscraper* Park Place Mall, Lethbridge, AlbertaUnited Arab Emirates:...
s
External links
- Minerva plc description of Park Place
- Park Place information from Croydon Council
- Park Place peerages row in the Croydon Guardian