Croydon bids for £20million of Government funding to improve borough

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

There are hopes nearly £20million of Government funding could transform Croydon town centre.

If successful, more than half of the cash will be used to improve the area around Fairfield Halls, which has recently undergone a controversial £70m refurbishment.

Croydon council has bid for money from the Government’s Levelling Up fund.

Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry, said the money would put town centre regeneration “back on track”.

The stalled redevelopment of the town centre, coupled with the impact of the pandemic, has led to a decline in footfall and “resident satisfaction”, according to a council report.

The bid, submitted on July 6, was revealed at a cabinet meeting last week. At the meeting, Mayor Perry said with the council’s finances in a “dire” state, outside funding was crucial to revitalise the town centre.

Of the £19.9m bid, £11.8m would go towards creating a new public square outside Fairfield Halls and Croydon College which could be completed by March 2025.. This is something that was supposed to be provided during the revamp of the arts centre.

The rest of the money would be used to improve the streets and routes between South End, East Croydon railway station, West Croydon railway station, the old town and the Minster.

Pictured top: The money would mean work could start on a new public space outside Fairfield Halls (Picture: Croydon council)