The long-delayed East Croydon pedestrian bridge has cleared what could be its final obstacle, with the signing of a key funding agreement paving the way for the project’s final phase. The deal means work on the last section of the pedestrian bridge connecting Addiscombe to East Croydon station and the town centre is now set to get underway this summer.
Despite this progress, the project remains years behind schedule, with completion not expected until 2027, 15 years after it was first proposed in 2012.
While most of the bridge has been open and accessible from the Ruskin Road entrance for several years, the Cherry Orchard Road entrance remains incomplete behind hoardings. Progress has been stalled by lengthy negotiations between Croydon Council, Network Rail and developer Menta Regeneration over funding, the completion of the bridge’s eastern entrance, and arrangements for its future maintenance.
Menta, which completed its residential tower blocks on Cherry Orchard Road in 2023, is responsible for the bridge’s eastern entrance, which passes through the 850-home development. While work on this section has stalled in recent years, the new funding agreement between the parties has formalised how the eastern entrance of the bridge will be completed and maintained in the future.
This, together with the necessary planning approvals, means Network Rail’s contractor can begin work to complete the link this summer, with full public access expected in 2027. The completed route will provide a more direct connection between Addiscombe and Croydon town centre, while offering commuters an alternative route to access the platforms at East Croydon Station.
While the agreement has been welcomed as a breakthrough, Sean Fitzsimons, Labour councillor for Addiscombe West, suggested the delays represented a failure on the council’s part.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Residents were first promised this link by Mayor Jason Perry in 2012, and 14 years later it is still not complete.”
He added: “It is shocking that surrounding building works were completed in 2023, and it took Mayor Perry three years to get the agreement signed off by all parties – doesn’t say much for his negotiation skills.”
The LDRS has previously reported how the bridge will not include ticket barriers on the Cherry Orchard Road side, meaning passengers will need to climb the stairs, pass through a narrow entrance, cross the bridge, queue at the west-side gates and then walk back across to reach platforms 5 and 6. Network Rail has cited cost pressures for the decision, but many residents living east of the station say it will add unnecessary time and hassle to their journeys.
Commenting on the ticket barrier issue, Cllr Fitzsimons said: “I think residents will take this announcement with a pinch of salt over when these works complete. And even then, there won’t be a ticket line on the Cherry Orchard Road side.
“Local councillors will continue to press GTR and Network Rail to install new-style ticket barriers that prevent fare evasion, but allow faster access to the platforms.”
At East Croydon Community Organisation’s AGM on Thursday night (July 9), questions were also raised with the council over why fencing outside the Menta construction site remains in place, obstructing the pavement and blocking access to a public space that was completed more than two years ago.
Despite this, Executive Mayor Jason Perry said the new agreement represented “a major milestone” and would support wider plans to improve connections across the town centre.
He added: “It’s another positive step in the regeneration of our town centre – we are improving accessibility, connectivity and making Croydon a more vibrant place that our residents and businesses can be proud to call home.”
The bridge project forms part of the council’s wider £40m programme aimed at making Croydon “more welcoming, better connected and easier to navigate”.
Other schemes include the opening of a new street-level crossing on Wellesley Road, the closure of the pedestrian subway, improvements to Dingwall Road and upgrades to George Street.
Once complete, the council says the bridge will provide a fully accessible route across the station and form part of wider efforts to improve movement through East Croydon.
Craig Marks, CEO of Menta Regeneration, said: “We are delighted that the new pedestrian bridge will soon open to the public.”
Credit: Harrison Galliven
He added: “We are thankful to the residents of Addiscombe for their patience whilst this major investment and commitment to the wider community is finally completed with the opening of the bridge, working collaboratively with Croydon Council and Network Rail.”
Network Rail Sussex Route Director Lucy McAuliffe acknowledged the delays, saying: “Reaching this point has taken longer than we would have liked, and we appreciate the continued patience of residents and passengers throughout.”
She added: “I’m really pleased that collectively, we are now able to proceed into the delivery phase ahead of completion in 2027.”
