Croydon’s reputation as “one of the most progressive places in Europe” is making a comeback.
Paul Finch OBE, made the claim while he chaired the Curating Croydon session at the Placemaking Croydon conference.
Mr Finch, who is programme director of the World Architecture Festival, explained how Croydon had acquired the progressive reputation in the 1960s.
He said: “[Croydon was] a remote location but was extremely well-connected to central London. It had intensive office building, both private and government departments, in what was then an entirely modern approach to planning in cities. In retrospect, it went too far with the car but that wasn’t unique to Croydon.”
Mr Finch, who is also editorial director of the Architectural Review and Architects’ Journal, said Croydon at that time also had “municipal pride” and “cultural value.”
“So what went wrong? Government policy of investing heavily in East London. Canary Wharf became the residual office location with billions of pounds worth of investment into the Limehouse link and Jubilee Line,” Mr Finch said.
However, he added: “This explains why new moves to regenerate are so significant. The tide is turning. Now investors are wondering why they ever ignored this place.”
He said the connectivity, regeneration of Fairfield Halls, the retail and cultural offering, office development, office to resi conversion and Boxpark were all playing a part.
