Reviving a Piece of Town’s Heritage with New Shops and Food Outlets
- Westfield owner granted planning permission for Allders building revamp
- Historic Croydon department store to be redeveloped with new shops and food outlets
- First phase of wider initiative to bring life back to the landmark building
The historic Allders department store building in Croydon, which closed in 2013, will be revamped by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) after receiving planning permission from Croydon Council. The plans include new shops and food outlets as part of a phased scheme to rejuvenate the much-loved local landmark. Allders was founded in 1862 and closed in 2013 after falling into administration, but the building remains an important part of the town’s heritage. The refurbished frontage will have minimal alterations, with five retail units ranging from 450 sq ft to 1,300 sq ft and two food and beverage outlets each occupying 450 sq ft. This marks the beginning of a wider initiative to bring new life to the building. ‘This is the first step of many in our plan to revive this much-loved Croydon landmark, bringing Allders back into use as a space the community can enjoy while preserving its heritage,’ said Penny Cameron, head of UK development at URW. ‘We look forward to working with the council to deliver these new shops, services, and food outlets for Croydon.’ The retail scene in Croydon has faced challenges over the past decade, but this revamp aims to restore a sense of pride in the historic town center.
Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate and objective information about the planning permission granted for the revamp of the Allders department store building, the details of the redevelopment plans, and quotes from relevant parties involved in the project. It also gives a brief background on the history of the building and the challenges faced by Croydon’s retail scene. However, it includes a brief mention of Aldi’s growth in the UK which is not directly related to the main topic.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about a local development project and its potential impact on the community, but it lacks in-depth analysis or exploration of broader trends or consequences. It also briefly mentions Aldi without providing any context or connection to the main topic.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: Croydon’s retail scene and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW)
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses the revamp of a historic department store building, which will introduce new shops and food outlets. This impacts the local retail market and affects the company Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, as they are the developer and operator of the project.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no mention of an extreme event in the text.
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