Arts and regeneration set to change the face of Croydon

Croydon is a large, multicultural town located in the south of London. It is a thriving suburb with a prominent arts culture and strong community links.

The area is home to several arts venues, literary groups and musical traditions. 

It also plays host to the popular Channel 4 show Peep Show and is home to many notable people, including the late Amy Winehouse, who attended the BRIT school in the borough, the famous poet, D.H Lawrence, Kate Moss and Raymond Chandler.

It is also in a process of change, with many regeneration projects taking place in the locality.

Recently, Croydon Council revealed that more than £3.2 million is being invested to improve the street, tidy up shop fronts, build facades, and repave footpaths.

In addition, the local authority will provide new seating and cycle parking and plant trees.

The council said that the improvements will help to boost local businesses and make the roads more pedestrian-friendly.

It will spend up to £600,000 on boosting local businesses to improve shops and buildings.

This will include cleaning and repainting, restoring historical features and cleaning. 

Commenting on the developments, councillor Toni Letts, cabinet member for economic development, said that there are a number of significant changes taking place across the borough.

She added: "Our high streets are hugely important to the prosperity of the borough and they say a huge amount about us. If we create inviting public spaces where people feel safe to shop and spend their leisure time we will change Croydon's image and bring in even more much-needed investment.

"It's our pledge to be ambitious for Croydon, and by driving forward this scheme we are showing we mean business."

All of the works in the borough are expected to be completed in 2015.

Published 21st August, 2014

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