Croydon's Queens Gardens is set to change, after a new regeneration project was approved by councillors.

It was a unanimous decision to give planning permission to a tower-block of 514 new homes, spread across four buildings, where former council headquarters, Taberner House used to be.

The new development, which was approved on May18, will include 13,000 sq foot of retail and office space, a new play area, pavilion café and complete revamp of the landscaping at the Queens Gardens.

The four buildings between 13 and 35 storeys will also include an ‘east-west’ route with enhanced pedestrian access for residents and commuters. At least 179 homes will be 'affordable'.

The scheme is a collaboration between HUB and social impact investor Bridges Ventures, alongside Architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris and Grant Associates who will design the buildings and landscaping.

Croydon Council’s executive director for place, Shifa Mustafa said: “This is an exciting and ambitious scheme to regenerate a key town centre site, delivering more than 500 much-needed new homes, many of which will be affordable.

“I’m also delighted that The Queen’s Gardens, a valued oasis in our town centre, will be revitalised as a stunning new, high-quality public space with a community café and play area. The developers have engaged with the community from the outset regarding what they would like to see on the site, so local people have really helped shape the plans.

She added: “Taberner House was always an important part of the Croydon panorama and the exceptional design of this development means once again, this will be a site for Croydon to be proud of.”

Managing director of HUB, Steve Stanham said: “There’s a fundamental belief at HUB in the importance not only of delivering sustainable developments, but doing whatever we can to ensure that those developments respect, and talk to the communities that already exist in an area.

We took the time to talk to local people, lots of people, we researched the long history of the site, and developed a proposal for Taberner House and The Queen’s Gardens, which we are very happy, has been given the blessing of the council. We’re very much looking forward to putting a spade in the ground.”

Taberner House was demolished in 2015.