THE government will not stand in the way of Westfield/Hammerson's £1 billion town centre regeneration project.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said today (Wednesday) he will not intervene in the plan to redevelop the Whitgift Centre.
Mr Pickles did have the power to take a closer look at the proposal, potentially delaying a scheme which will create a new shopping centre, hundreds of new homes and up to 5,000 new jobs.
In a letter to Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell, released this evening, he wrote: "I'm pleased to inform you that I have decided not to intervene on the above proposal and therefore the local planning authority, Croydon Council, may now determine the application as they think fit."
Croydon Council gave the landmark scheme outline planning permission last month, a decision later backed by Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
Mr Pickles was the final official hurdle for a plan that will see the Whitgift Centre replaced by 1.4 million sq ft of new retail space, leisure facilities.
The two developers will also build between 400 and 600 new homes.
Mr Barwell said: "The way is now clear for Croydon Council to proceed with a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) if the remaining landowners, who have no alternative scheme, refuse to sell to Westfield and Hammerson. Happy days."
Croydon's three MPs wrote a joint letter to the Commmunities Secretary urging him not to hold up the project.
In response, government planning officer Dave Moseley wrote: "The Secretary of State has carefully considered this case against call-in policy.
"The policy makes it clear that the power to call in a case will only be used very selectively.
"The Government is committed to give more power to councils and communities to make their own decisions on planning issues, and believes planning decision should be made at the local level wherever possible."
Mr Moseley said the Secretary of State had considered the impact of the plan and decided it should be "determined at local level".
