The developers agreed a package of community benefits with Croydon Council yesterday including investing £29m in Croydon’s transport network.

Under the pair’s plan Croydon’s Whitgift Centre will be rebuilt to offer a 1.5m sq ft retail, leisure and restaurant destination, together with new public realm, car parking and up to 600 homes.

The scheme, which will combine the adjacent Centrale shopping centre, also includes a cinema, bowling, restaurants and cafes.

Hammerson’s chief investment officer Peter Cole said: “This 106 agreement represents another significant milestone for the scheme, and brings our proposals closer to delivery.

“We are in active discussions with retailers and are progressing scheme designs.

Detailed designs for the scheme will be unveiled during 2014 and a start on site is expected in 2015.