The John Whitgift Foundation has sold the Whitgift Centre freehold to Unibail‑Rodamco‑Westfield (URW), the developer behind The Croydon Project, in a move designed to streamline ownership and speed up the regeneration of Croydon’s town centre.

URW already holds a long lease on the site, and the deal consolidates control across the Whitgift Centre, Green Park House and the remaining parts of Allders not previously owned by the company, simplifying the site’s ownership structure.

-- Advertisement --

As part of its masterplan framework, URW will redevelop the North End area to deliver shops, cultural space, public realm improvements and new homes. The agreement follows the recent revival of the former Allders building and its neighbouring parade, which has attracted new retail and food and drink operators.

The move has been welcomed by the Executive Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry, who has reaffirmed his commitment to town centre renewal in his Business Plan 2026–2030.

The Foundation confirmed the freehold sale price was £31.5 million, with proceeds enabling it to focus on its core charitable work in education and care in Croydon.

The Whitgift site previously housed Trinity School until its move to Shirley Park sixty years ago. For decades, income from the estate has funded bursaries at the Foundation’s schools and supported almshouses in the town centre. The Foundation said this funding will continue after the sale as it consolidates its endowment investments.