EMERGING LONDON 2018

As London’s fastest growing tech start-up cluster Croydon Tech City looks set to give Shoreditch a good run for its money. The borough is home to South London’s largest co-working and tech incubator centre TMRW and now boasts over a thousand digital, tech and creative start-ups. At the other end of the scale, comprehensive big-ticket redevelopment of the town centre is well underway, including the £30m refurbishment of the Fairfield Halls arts venue. Stanhope and Schroders’ Ruskin Square mixed-use scheme, providing high spec offices right next to East Croydon station, has already netted one major tenant (HMRC) for the first 184,000 sq ft building and the temporary addition of an 80-unit Boxpark providing pop-up street food places in disused containers has been a big hit. The most talked- about show in town is undoubtedly Westfield and Hammerson’s proposed £1bn 1.5m sq ft regeneration of the Centrale and Whitgift shopping centres. Around 9,000 new homes are the pipeline across the borough, with more than half expected to be concentrated in the town centre. They include 800 apartments in Guildhouse Rosepride’s planned One Lansdowne, due to be the UK’s second- tallest building. Croydon will also be home to two of the world’s tallest towers built using modular construction at Greystar and Henderson Park’s 550-apartment 101 George Street development. KEY STATISTICS C&W Evolutionary Status: MATURING C&W Location Ranking: 22 TfL travel zone: 5 Local authority: Croydon Distance from central London: 9 miles south Population: 391,000 (©GLA borough population projections 2018) John Grimes HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT LEASING HAMMERSON How would you describe what is happening in Croydon? Croydon offers first class transport links to and from the largest office district outside London. Our rejuvenation of the town centre will also restore Croydon to its rightful prominence within the retail hierarchy of the Home Counties. There is simply no dominant retail centre in between central London and the South Coast and that’s the role that Croydon will play following the successful completion of the proposed new shopping centre. Alice Bryson LOCAL RESIDENT CROYDON How would you describe what is happening in Croydon? Croydon is becoming very up and coming. Lots of bars and restaurants are opening (Boxpark, in particular, is very popular) and lots of flats are being built. Which five words best describe Croydon? 1. Diverse 2. Vibrant 3. Misunderstood 4. Entertaining 5. Family-friendly What are people who haven’t been to Croydon missing? Great bars, restaurants and shopping and family entertainment. MY LONDON Which five words best describe Croydon? 1. Dynamic 2. Diverse 3. Vibrant 4. Ambitious 5. Modern What are people who haven’t been to Croydon missing? A real understanding of the ease of access to what is a city in all but name. Apart from Croydon, what is your favourite part of London and why? Brent Cross in North West London where Hammerson jointly owns a very unique retail destination. What is the most exciting change you see in London over the next five years? The complete transformation of both Brent Cross and Croydon as retail destinations. Do you have a personal ‘hidden London’ location you’d like to share? Bang Bang Oriental Foodhall in Apart from Croydon, what is your favourite part of London and why? South London (Balham/Clapham) as it’s where I lived before moving to Croydon – it has a great social scene. What is the most exciting change you see in London over the next five years? Development of areas such as Croydon. Best location in London to shop for quirky gifts? Camden and Shoreditch. Best location in London to eat? Depends what you’re looking for! There are great places everywhere. Portobello is one of my favourite areas to eat. Best location in London for a night out with friends? East London, especially Shoreditch. Colindale – real food for real people in a quirky location. Best location in London to shop for quirky gifts? Brixton Market. Best location in London to eat? West End. Shoreditch. Notting Hill. Best location in London for a night out with friends? Ladbroke Grove. Notting Hill. Best location in London for visiting with family/relatives? Kings Road, Chelsea. Borough Market. What is your favoured form of transport around the capital? London Bus – best way to find out what’s going on. Part of London you’d like to explore more and why? Places like Leadenhall Market and the many Roman remains scattered around the city. Best location in London for visiting with family/relatives? Central London (museums, Hyde Park). Camden Lock. Portobello Market. What is your favoured form of transport around the capital? The tube. Part of London you’d like to explore more and why? North London - as we’ve always lived south I don’t know the north as well. Portobello Road CROYDON CR0 Spotlight on 31 30 CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD  | EMERGING LONDON SPOTLIGHT ON CROYDON