News is emerging that Croydon will soon be getting its own Westfield shopping centre, the third of its kind in London. According to reports, £1.9billion has been approved by the council to build the new shopping centre. 

2019 is the optimistic start date for construction (the shopping centre will reportedly open 2022), and that comes with the promise of 7,000 new jobs and 1,000 new homes to be built in the area. Part of the project will involve regenerating the area's former Whitgift and Centrale shopping centres.

The shopping centre itself will feature 300 shops, restaurants, cafes and leisure facilities including a cinema and bowling alley.

Developers Hammerson and Westfield came together to form the Croydon Partnership in 2013 and negotiated the scheme, while the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the Minister for London Greg Hands, along with local MPs, oversaw planning.

Leader of Croydon Council, Tony Newman said: "This is fantastic news for Croydon and we have been doing everything we can to bring the redevelopment of the Whitgift Centre to fruition so local people can benefit from its wealth of offerings, including the creation of 7,000 new jobs.

Martin Corney, Chief Executive of The Whitgift Foundation, said: "This is a momentous decision for Croydon's future and we are thrilled that approval has been given by the Council for the scheme to go ahead and create one of the UK's top 10 shopping and entertainment destinations."