Whitgift Centre: Difference between revisions

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| owner = [[Whitgift Foundation]]
| owner = [[Whitgift Foundation]]
| current_tenants =
| current_tenants =
| landlord = Administrators of Howard Holdings plc
| landlord = 75%: Administrators of Howard Holdings plc, on behalf of [[Royal London Asset Management]]/[[Irish Bank Resolution]]<br>25%: Whitgift Foundation
| location =
| location =
| address =
| address =
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==Background==
==Background==
{{Main|Whitgift Foundation}}
{{Main|Whitgift Foundation}}
The name comes from [[John Whitgift]], a former [[Archbishop of Canterbury]]. The freehold of the Centre is owned by the [[Whitgift Foundation]], a registered charity in England & Wales.<ref name="charity-commission"/> The centre was built on the site of Whitgift Middle School, renamed [[Trinity School of John Whitgift]] in 1954, which moved to a new site at [[Shirley, London|Shirley Park]] in 1965.
The name comes from [[John Whitgift]], a former [[Archbishop of Canterbury]]. The freehold of the Centre is owned by the [[Whitgift Foundation]], a registered charity in England & Wales.<ref name="charity-commission"/> They sold a long term lease to a company 75% owned and controlled by Howard Holdings plc, and 25% by the Whitgift Foundation themselves. Designed by Geddes Architects, the centre was built on the site of Whitgift Middle School, renamed [[Trinity School of John Whitgift]] in 1954, which moved to a new site at [[Shirley, London|Shirley Park]] in 1965.


==History==
==History==
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As part of [[Croydon Vision 2020]], plans to develop and expand the centre were formalised by leaseholder and landlord [[Howard Holdings plc]], for which a planning application was submitted. Construction of the extension was due to start in 2009 and be finished in 2014, as promised by Geddes Architects who were the main contractor.
As part of [[Croydon Vision 2020]], plans to develop and expand the centre were formalised by leaseholder and landlord [[Howard Holdings plc]], for which a planning application was submitted. Construction of the extension was due to start in 2009 and be finished in 2014, as promised by Geddes Architects who were the main contractor.


In 2010, Howard Holdings went into administration.<ref>[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2009/1114/1224258815520.html]</ref><ref>[http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/40aa4f48e7ea78ebd12880a2bf6759fd/compdetails</ref> They had proposed redevelopment of the centre, under the [[Croydon Vision 2020]] scheme. The Whitgift Foundation have invited two developers, [[Australia]]n-based [[Westfield Group]] and UK-based Hammerson to now pitch alternative redevelopment schemes. The winner will be provided with a long-term lease, subject to redevelopment.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18682091</ref>
In 2010, Howard Holdings went into administration.<ref>[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2009/1114/1224258815520.html]</ref><ref>[http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/40aa4f48e7ea78ebd12880a2bf6759fd/compdetails</ref> Their 75& of the lease is now managed by their administrators, on behalf of [[Royal London Insurance|Royal London Asset Management]] and [[Irish Bank Resolution]].

In mid-2011, two companies were invited to pitch for the redevelopment: [[Australia]]n-based [[Westfield Group]] and UK-French based Hammerson. The Whitgift Foundation resultantly came to a binding agreement with Westfield for a £1Bn redevelopment scheme. However, RLAM/IBR preferred Hammerson, and so came to an alternate agreement, announcing Hammerson as the winner in April 2012.<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/constructionandproperty/9180901/Hammerson-chosen-over-Westfield-to-redevelop-Whitgift-shopping-centre.html</ref> Much as though RLAM/IBR owned 75% of the leasehold company, no development could take place without the freeholder, the Whitgift Foundation's, full agreement. In mid-2012, the joint-lease holders agreed on a public consultation of the two rivals and their schemes. The winner will be provided with a long-term lease, subject to redevelopment.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18682091</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 01:35, 23 July 2012

Further information: Croydon Vision 2020
Whitgift Centre
Sainsbury's Square; includes a Foot Locker, Sainsbury's Central, River Island, H&M, Boots, and Holland & Barrett
Map
General information
Town or cityCroydon, London
Country England
Inaugurated1970
ClientHoward Holdings plc
OwnerWhitgift Foundation
Landlord75%: Administrators of Howard Holdings plc, on behalf of Royal London Asset Management/Irish Bank Resolution
25%: Whitgift Foundation
Technical details
Floor area1,300,000 square feet (120,000 m2)[1]
Design and construction
Architect(s)Geddes Architects

The Whitgift Centre is a large shopping centre and office development in the centre of Croydon, London, opened in stages between 1968 and 1970.[1] The centre currently comprises 1,302,444 sq ft (121,001.0 m2) of retail space and was the largest covered shopping development in Greater London until the opening of Westfield London at White City in October 2008.

Background

Main article: Whitgift Foundation

The name comes from John Whitgift, a former Archbishop of Canterbury. The freehold of the Centre is owned by the Whitgift Foundation, a registered charity in England & Wales.[2] They sold a long term lease to a company 75% owned and controlled by Howard Holdings plc, and 25% by the Whitgift Foundation themselves. Designed by Geddes Architects, the centre was built on the site of Whitgift Middle School, renamed Trinity School of John Whitgift in 1954, which moved to a new site at Shirley Park in 1965.

History

The first shop to open was Boots on 17 October 1968, and the centre itself was officially opened in October 1970 by the Duchess of Kent.[1] In the middle of the Whitgift Centre there was a Roman-themed pub called The Forum. In the 1990s, the centre was almost completely rebuilt to an atrium design, and the Forum pub was demolished.

Structure

The shopping centre is on three storeys — the upper two are for retail and the basement provides vehicle access to any of the retail units with a 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) network of service roads. It adjoins the major Allders store, which has substantial frontage onto the Centre. The office accommodation consists of five tower blocks rising above the shopping centre. The other major shopping centre in Croydon is Centrale across North End, owned by Hammerson.

Redevelopmet

Main article: Croydon Vision 2020

As part of Croydon Vision 2020, plans to develop and expand the centre were formalised by leaseholder and landlord Howard Holdings plc, for which a planning application was submitted. Construction of the extension was due to start in 2009 and be finished in 2014, as promised by Geddes Architects who were the main contractor.

In 2010, Howard Holdings went into administration.[3][4] Their 75& of the lease is now managed by their administrators, on behalf of Royal London Asset Management and Irish Bank Resolution.

In mid-2011, two companies were invited to pitch for the redevelopment: Australian-based Westfield Group and UK-French based Hammerson. The Whitgift Foundation resultantly came to a binding agreement with Westfield for a £1Bn redevelopment scheme. However, RLAM/IBR preferred Hammerson, and so came to an alternate agreement, announcing Hammerson as the winner in April 2012.[5] Much as though RLAM/IBR owned 75% of the leasehold company, no development could take place without the freeholder, the Whitgift Foundation's, full agreement. In mid-2012, the joint-lease holders agreed on a public consultation of the two rivals and their schemes. The winner will be provided with a long-term lease, subject to redevelopment.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Have you been around as long as Whitgift?". Croydon Guardian. Newsquest Media Group. 15 September 2010. p. 2. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  2. ^ "The Whitgift Foundation, registered charity no. 312612". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
  3. ^ [1]
  4. ^ [http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/40aa4f48e7ea78ebd12880a2bf6759fd/compdetails
  5. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/constructionandproperty/9180901/Hammerson-chosen-over-Westfield-to-redevelop-Whitgift-shopping-centre.html
  6. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18682091

External links

51°22′33″N 0°06′02″W / 51.37583°N 0.10056°W / 51.37583; -0.10056

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