Shopkeepers under ‘mothballed’ Tower development still in limbo as trade suffers

By Harrison Galliven, Local Democracy Service

Shop owners below the infamous Nestle Tower in Croydon say they are desperate for signs of real progress as they struggle to attract trade in what they say has become a ‘dead zone.’

R&F Properties, a large Chinese development company, began redeveloping the tower into more than 200 flats in 2019 after purchasing the tower and the adjoining Grade II-listed Segas House in 2017.

However, the redevelopment came to an abrupt halt in 2020 and the sole remaining trace of work on the tower is the scaffolding that still encases it today.

While this pause risked being permanent due to the financial and legal difficulties experienced by the owner, there are signs that progress may be resuming, with some of the scaffolding having been removed.

The few shop owners left on St George’s Walk, an arcade which runs beneath the St George’s Tower (its official name) say they feel a deep sense of uncertainty about the future. They say they often get no passing trade throughout the day.

One of those shop owners, Moshin Akbary, said: “It’s a dead place. The dilemma is that the company who were going to develop it is now not doing anything with it. This is not the St George’s Walk we want.”

Near Mr Akbary’s Mail Smart postage shop sits Posh Clinic. It is one of five shops on St George’s Walk owned by businessman Deniz Sengul.

He said: “A few weeks before the New Year, we got news saying the new buyers do not want the scaffolding. I heard they paid £2 million for the scaffolding in the first place and they aren’t happy with it. I think the scaffolding will be coming down in two weeks.”

Despite this news of its removal after years of stalled development, Sengul remained concerned about the state of the St George’s complex. He said: “They are keeping us in the dark at the moment.

“I don’t know what they are going to offer us. They might give us the notice to move or they might give us some benefits. I don’t think this will happen because we are not secure tenants and they might offer the money to the leaseholder instead. We don’t have a lot of power down here or someone that can help us.”

Both Sengul and Akbary say that they were previously given three months notice to vacate their properties when the tower was purchased a few years ago. While this caused them both significant concern, nothing transpired after the notice period and their shops remain in limbo on St George’s Walk.

Meanwhile, shop owners along the parade believe business has suffered as a result of the stalled redevelopment. The eastern half of St George’s Walk was demolished in 2018 to make way for a new public square and hundreds of flats as part of a planned £500 million redevelopment.

Sengul said: “Since the other building was demolished a few years ago, people think St George’s Walk is demolished as well. From Park Street and coming down to St George’s Road, you can only see one sign saying that we’re here. You wouldn’t know we’re here.”

Mr Akbary said: “Even some weekly market stalls placed along the arcade would help business. It would get the people to come in. We need to get more local people to shop here.”

The arcade, which has been the backdrop for several films including a new superhero film starring Idris Elba, is poorly signposted from the street. Furthermore, changes to bus stop locations mean the arcade often suffers from shopper visibility.

At the other end of the walk, sitting right beneath the tower, is UK Beauty Supplier. The shop, which specialises in African hair and beauty products, has been there for seven years.

The owner, Titi, referring to the lack of passing trade, said: “I do most of my business online now and use this shop more for storage now. Sometimes whole days go without people coming into the shop. We are moving to another store on Norfolk House, it will be much busier there.”

A spokesman for Croydon Council said: “The regeneration of Croydon town centre remains a priority for the council. We are continuing discussions with the owner of this key town centre site, to get it redeveloped for the benefit of local businesses and residents.”

R&F Properties was approached but declined to comment on the current status of the redevelopment.

Pictured top: Moshin Akbary – one of the frustrated shop owners affected (Picture: Facundo Arrizabalaga)