After more than a decade of work, a derelict building in the popular Crystal Palace triangle could finally get underway in 2024. But the building in question is on offer to be rented out again casting doubt on the possibility of progress next year.
The application to demolish buildings behind Victory Place and Carberry Road, off Westow Street, to make way for an apart-hotel, flats and shop space were originally approved in 2013, and in 2018 the developer said a new M&S store is interested in opening on the ground floor.
In 2022 the owners St Aidans Holdings submitted a change to the planning approval to replace the apart-hotel rooms with more flats. This was approved by Croydon Council and means the total number of flats provided as part of the development would rise from 33 to 43.
A representative of Arcus, which was the agent on the latest application said development is expected to “kick off” early next year.
Attempts were made to speak with St Aidans Holdings directly but the Local Democracy Reporting Service did not hear back.
However, land at the back of the site is now on offer to be rented out. The 4,000 square foot old dairy site has been listed by estate agents Easton Green which does not reveal a price per month.
The brochure said: “A unique opportunity to let a large multi-use space on flexible terms, the space has A1 licensing so could be used as retail space or just as parking/storage.”
For more than two years, the knocked out middle of the building was home to bar Varanda. It closed its doors in January 2023 blaming rising costs and the uncertainty of the building’s redevelopment.
At the time it said: “Regretfully the cost of consistent winter-proofing, maintaining, stocking, staffing and keeping up with ever-rising costs of this temporary venue has meant we would need to hike prices or make too many compromises to move forwards into 2023.
“Coupled with the uncertainty around the development of the site and the innate problems with the site – considerable investment would be required to fix the numerous building issues.”
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