Croydon gives green light for 55-storey tower block

Plans for a large new tower in Croydon have got the go-ahead from the council as another major office scheme is planned.

The riot-scarred town is betting on new investment to help its bid for City status this year.

Developers Guildhouse UK and Rosepride Properties have been given the green light for their £350 million plans for a 55-storey tower close to the Whitgift shopping centre.

The development will include a 217-bedroom four-star hotel and 397 flats.

Another planning application is expected this spring from property developer Mark Glatman's Abstract Securities. Abstract is planning a 100,000-square-foot office block on a 1.13-acre site next to East Croydon station, after it bought the site last year.

Residential specialist Guildhouse, run by David Hudson, and south London property expert Mark Waterston's Rosepride Properties teamed up to pool their expertise to develop the tower at 1 Lansdowne Road.

They have spent the past six years working up the plans for the site.

The new large hotel and office schemes will be some consolation for Croydon following the huge blow from consumer goods giant Nestlé, which said this month it will leave for a new UK head office in Crawley.