Met Geo Environmental has completed a detailed survey in the centre of Croydon for a £90m re-design of the Centrale Shopping Centre.
Met was appointed by leading European retail estate company Hammerson to inform plans for an extensive refurbishment and repositioning of Centrale including reconfiguring existing retail floorspace and the addition of leisure and restaurant areas.
Acquired by Hammerson in March 2011, Centrale spreads over 696,400 sq ft of space comprising 80 retail units with Debenhams and House of Fraser acting as anchor tenants. Croydon has the 13th largest shopping population in the UK with over 455,000 people.
The survey requirement was for elevation street surveys of the existing pedestrianised high street, sectional elevations of the malls and a topographical survey through the existing atrium.
Floor plans of the multi-storey car park and spiral access ramps plus selected shops and buildings together with roof plans were also provided across the existing centre.
Much of the internal surveying was undertaken at night to facilitate existing retail operators, particularly during the highest footfall and stock holding periods over Christmas and New Year.
Recorded data is now being used to inform the planning application submitted for the redevelopment of the centre which, it is understood, is being recommended for approval by planning officers.
The Hammerson scheme includes provision of a new restaurant quarter, a multi-screen cinema and space for two additional retail stores.
Lawrence Hutchings, Hammerson’s Managing Director of UK Retail, said: “There has been significant underinvestment in Croydon’s retail core for some time with major brands missing from the town’s retail mix. Croydon has one of the highest catchment spends in the UK and our proposals will deliver a well designed space creating a new prime pitch for the town.
This is a massive opportunity to put Croydon back on the map with both retailers and consumers and we want Centrale to lead this transformation.”
If planning permission is granted, Hammerson intends to start work next March, with the cinema and restaurants opening in October 2014.