MILLIONS of pounds will pour into Croydon from the Westfield/Hammerson Partnership's redevelopment of the Whitgift Centre, Mayor of London Boris Johnson said this week.
He predicted the benefits in an answer to a question at Mayor's Question Time in City Hall on Tuesday from Steve O'Connell, Croydon's London Assembly member.
Asked how Croydon's economy would gain from the development, the mayor said: "The £1 billion Croydon Partnership redevelopment of the Whitgift Centre, by both Westfield and Hammersmith, will transform Croydon's town centre and provide south London with a state of the art retail and leisure destination.
"It will create 5,000 new jobs for local Londoners and provide over £30 million towards local transport improvements and employment and training benefits."
The mayor added: "It is estimated that the increase in employment will make a contribution of £136 million per annum to the economy in terms of Gross Value Added.
"The proposed development will also mean an estimated net increase of up to £20 million per year in business rates."
The mayor continued: "The scheme will act as a major catalyst for the wider physical and social regeneration of Croydon town centre, helping it to once again become one of London's most vibrant town centres and a major driver of the London economy."
