Top 9 New Projects to Affect Offices in Croydon

Office space in Croydon is in high demand and it is no wonder, with such considerable investment in the borough. Here we take a look at some of the significant development projects that have recently been completed or are in the pipeline, set to boost the popularity of Croydon as a place to do business even further.

1. Fairfield Halls

The newly refurbished Fairfield Halls re-opened in September 2019 following a three-year, multi-million-pound makeover. The event saw legendary actress Dame Judi Dench re-opening the Ashcroft Playhouse housed within the venue, and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan formally re-opening the building itself.

The new Fairfield Halls will deliver a varied programme of culture, arts, events, education and entertainment for Croydon’s residents and the wider communities. It is all about making local people feel involved, offering free live entertainment, art exhibitions and a bar so that everyone locally feels that the building is theirs to use.

Illustration for Fairfield Halls redevelopment. Photo: Rick Mather Architects

2. College Green

The College Green development, part of the Fairfield Halls redevelopment plan, will see the creation of over 400 new homes around a number of high-quality public spaces; a new college; an art gallery and office space, all with the rejuvenated Fairfield Halls at its heart.

College Green will form Croydon’s new Cultural Quarter, spreading across Park Lane, Barclay Road, George Street and the Brighton Mainline railway.

Illustration for the College Green development. Photo: Rick Mather Architects

3. Essex House

Essex House was built in 1961 and was previously the HQ of British Rail. It was demolished in 1998 and the plot, which has been vacant ever since, is now being developed as a pair of 44 and 38-storey skyscrapers.

The development, situated opposite East Croydon station, is set to house over 500 residential dwellings together with ground floor offices and shops. Residents will enjoy two rooftop gardens on the 27th and 43rd floors, together with an enclosed winter garden.

The towers are likely to soar above the 43-storey Saffron Square, stealing the title of Croydon’s tallest building, although it may be a short-lived trophy as Lansdowne Road’s 68-storey tower is also currently in the making.

Illustration for the Essex House (101 George Street) development. Photo: Tide Construction Ltd.

4. Taberner House

The former home of Croydon Council, Taberner House was demolished in 2014 to make way for a 35-storey structure which, when completed, will command views of Queen’s Gardens.

The development will also incorporate a building comprising 13, 19 and 21 storeys. All in all, over 500 homes will be created in the centre of Croydon, with more than 40 per cent deemed affordable.

Illustration for the Taberner House development. Photo: AHMM by Frobes Massie

5. Fiveways Junction

Good news for road commuters comes in the shape of new plans for the infamously confusing and congested junction known as Fiveways.

The plans, set to start around late 2021 or early 2022, will see the bridge over the railway moved west, allowing Purley Way (the A23) to be straightened and widened. Shorter waiting times should also be created by the shifting of Denning Avenue to the north, creating a second crossroads with Stafford Road.

The plans will also create over 300 metres of new cycle lanes along Epsom Road the A232 and Purley Way together with stopping areas for bicycles at each junction.

Illustration for the Fiveways Junction. Photo: TFL Gov

6. St George’s Walk

Croydon Town Hall will get a substantially sized public square when £500 million plans to redevelop St George’s Walk come to fruition. The development will include new shops, and the refurbishment of the Nestlé building (St George’s House), creating three tower blocks comprising hundreds of residential dwellings.

There is not yet a secured date for the commencement of works, but planning applications involving the demolition of the former Blue Orchid nightclub would indicate that it is just around the corner.

Illustration for St George’s House development. Photo: EPR Architects

7. East Croydon Station

Croydon is known as the most congested section of Britain’s rail network. In response to the desperate need to improve train services in the area, major plans have been unveiled to develop an additional two platforms at East Croydon station.

Government funding will assist Network Rail in boosting platform numbers from six to eight, with the station set to grow in size and the introduction of a new concourse providing improved access to the platforms and out into the town centre.

The plans also include the creation of new homes above and around the station, as well as a series of new railway flyovers which are hoped to remove the bottleneck issues at Windmill Junction.

8. Norwood Junction Station

Network Rail has plans to remodel the platform and track at Norwood Station with the aim of allowing a greater number of trains to run through and stop.

Passengers will have more space to wait for, board and disembark trains, and longer platforms will allow 12-car trains to stop and open all doors. Lifts and footbridges will provide step-free access to all platforms to boost accessibility. The signalling system will also be upgraded.

Norwood-Junction-Station-proposal

9. Carolyn House

183 apartments are the result of a multi-million-pound development at Carolyn House, near to East Croydon station. Retail outlets will dominate the ground and first floors of the building, whilst floors two to 16 are dedicated to residential accommodation.

A rooftop extension provides further residential dwellings from floors 17 to 22, and floor 23 houses an outdoor area.

Just next door, work is due to commence on a 181-home project comprising two towers of nine and 24 storeys. Commercial space will take up the ground, first and second floors.

Illustration for Carolyn House (No.26). Photo: No. 26 – Croydon

Corinthian House Offices in Croydon

Corinthian House is a development of high-quality refurbished offices situated in Lansdowne Road, Croydon. On offer are excellent amenities, contemporary facilities and exciting opportunities to build a successful business in London. To discover more about taking up office space in this landmark building, we invite you to get in touch.