Three community faith organisations put in offers to buy former Croydon youth centre building
By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter
A youth centre in New Addington on sale for £1.2 million is now ‘under offer’ and could be bought by a religious group.
Croydon council decided to sell off Goldcrest Youth Centre which stopped being used at the start of the pandemic.
The council said it is no longer needed as the new £5.3 Timebridge Centre and Fieldway Family Centre can take on youth services in the area.
It opened in February 2021 and includes a multi-purpose hall, two studio spaces, conference and meeting rooms.
Goldcrest Youth Centre was one of the 15 sites the council opted to sell off last year in a move to improve its financial state.
The centre sits on a half-acre corner plot in Goldcrest Way, the purpose-built centre has two halls, a kitchen/lounge area and separate offices.
A council report describes the building as “dated” and explains that the site is currently limited to community use, which could “limit potential development opportunities”.
The former youth centre was put on the market by estate agent SHW in October 2021 and attracted eight viewings.
Now it looks likely the building will be taken on by a religious group.
It is ‘under offer’ on the SHW website where it was listed for offers in excess of £1.2 million.
The council does not reveal what the offers for the property were.
A council report reads: “The top three bids have all been received from community faith organisations and as all three bids are very similar, consideration has been given as to the wider benefits that each group could provide to the local community.
“Local ward councillors and representatives from residents groups have therefore been provided with the proposals that have been submitted by each bidder to assist with this process.”
Croydon council’s cabinet is set to approve the sale of the Goldcrest Centre at a meeting on Monday night along with the former Buffer Bear Nursery site, also in New Addington, which has been vacant for 10 years and was demolished in 2019.
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