Rt Hon Eric Pickles MPSecretary of State for Communities & Local GovernmentEland HouseBressenden PlaceLondonSW1E SDU

28th November 2013

As you may know, on Monday Croydon Council's Strategic Planning Committee approved an outline planningapplication from Westfield and Hammerson for the redevelopment of the Whitgift Centre and land bounded byPoplar Walk, Wellesley Road, George Street and North End in Croydon town centre.

As well as restoring Croydon to being one of the major retail destinations in the country, the scheme will:

• create thousands of jobs (3,320 full time equivalent jobs as a direct result of the scheme and another 330indirectly in supply chains plus 4,300 person years of construction employment);

• lead to the construction of between 400 and 600 new homes. Not only will this help to address the hugedemand for housing in our town, but having people living in the town centre will change it for the better -rather than just being somewhere young people go to drink in the evenings, it will once again be a placewhere people live;

• make it much easier to get around the town centre on foot. Unlike the current Whitgift Centre, which isimpassable at night, there will be pedestrian routes running through the SCheme, giving it a much moretown. centre feel and ensuring that there are good connections with other parts of the town centre that wewant to see regenerated like London Road and Surrey Street; and

• finally - and most importantly - it will change the reputation of Croydon, catalysing further investment byother developers.

The scheme is broadly consistent with national planning policy, the London Plan and the Croydon Plan. Itenjoys support from both groups on Croydon Council, from our London Assembly Member and the Mayor ofLondon, who has given his approval today.

In light of this, we are writing to ask you not to exercise yourpower to call the application in so that it canprogress a? quickly as possible. .

We are copying this letter to Nick Boles, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Planning; and to your SpecialAdviser, Sheridan Westlake.

Yours sincerely,

Gavin BarwellMP for Croydon Central

Rt Hon Richard OttawayMP for Croydon South

Steve ReedMP for Croydon North