A UK town is set to get a huge £1.4bn shopping centre – but it will now come with a big twist.

The  Westfield development in Croydon is set to go ahead – but with significant changes to the plans, according to the project’s developer.

The original £1.4bn proposal for a major retail hub similar to those in White City and Stratford has been scrapped. Instead, the Whitgift Centre site in the London town will feature a mix of retail and an increased number of residential units.

The retail giant announced plans for a mixed-use development in the town centre back in 2012. The proposed scheme was to include retail, hospitality and some residential spaces.

The project was originally due to be completed by 2017. However, after years of delays and not a single brick being laid, many residents lost hope of seeing a retail megacomplex, reports My London.

But now there’s a renewed sense of optimism since Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) took over the project from joint venture partner Hammerson last year. URW is now trying to reassure residents that the long-awaited plans will come to fruition – although not in the immediate future.

Tim Hurstwyn, development director at URW, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “We are different from the Westfield of old. We are here, and we are going to deliver.”

Mr Hurstwyn has highlighted a significant shift from the previous Westfield, heavily retail-centric proposals to the new “mixed-use” and adaptable plans. He said: “If the last few things have taught us anything, it is that building for a particular use is short-sighted.”

He also noted that while construction is slated to begin in 2028, they are taking a pragmatic approach to scheduling, acknowledging that “it would take time”. Once a bustling hub, the Whitgift Centre in Croydon has seen better days with dwindling visitors and a persistent leaky roof causing an array of drip buckets to become a common sight.

Under URW’s new vision, the centre is set to be reinvented as a mixed-use venue prioritising community engagement and accessibility. The plan divides the existing structure into Whitgift North and South.

Whitgift North is envisioned to house residential spaces and areas for community use, with URW suggesting these could range from healthcare facilities to educational establishments based on local demand. This will be complemented by a new public square, a linear park, versatile workspaces and retail offerings.

Whitgift South is set to maintain its retail heart while incorporating car parking facilities, housing, and a new public space dubbed Anchor Square. The area will also pay homage to the heritage-listed Whitgift Almshouses and Electric House, which are of significant concern to URW.

URW has acknowledged that the basement beneath the Whitgift, currently serving as a car park and loading area, presents a considerable challenge that must be addressed before redevelopment can commence. They anticipate numerous incremental planning applications for this area in the near future.

URW has suggested 2028 as a potential start date for the construction. 

Express.co.uk has approached URW for comment.