Ruth Kelly gives green light to Lend Lease and Minerva joint venture in Croydon

Park Place, the retail-led development in Croydon, has moved a step closer to realisation after communities minister Ruth Kelly yesterday approved compulsory purchase order (CPO) rights for the site.

The Lend Lease and Minerva joint venture is expecting to start enabling works on the 1m sq ft mixed use development this summer.

Park Place forms part of the wider £3.5bn proposed regeneration of Croydon and will include 130 shops, restaurants and cafes, as well as residential and commercial property.

The retail element will be connected to the existing Whitgift centre.

It spans 21 acres in the centre of Croydon and main construction is due to start next year with a completion date of 2011.

Lend Lease’s Mark Boyes and senior development manager described Park Place as “the catalyst for the regeneration of the town centre.”