TRENDY retail marketplace Boxpark is poised to move into Croydon.
It is understood founder and chief executive, Roger Wade, of Boxpark Shoreditch is close to finalising a deal to open his new venture on a site next to East Croydon station which forms part of the Stanhope/Schroders' Ruskin Square development.
It will take over an area which at present includes the Croydon Visitor Centre and the CeX entertainment goods shop, both of which are being told the developers are ending their temporary leases.
The scheme will result in the demolition of the two premises and their replacement by Boxpark's units which comprise what the company describes as "stripped and refitted shipping containers, creating unique, low cost, low risk pop-up stores."
It is believed Boxpark could spread down to Dingwall Road.
The company is expected to want to re-create the atmosphere of Shoreditch which includes a mix of fashion and lifestyle shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants.
No-one is officially confirming the deal this week but a company Boxpark Croydon Ltd was officially registered in the middle of December last year.
A spokesman for Boxpark said on Monday the company was not making comment "at this stage."
Stanhope/Schroders issued a statement which simply said: "Croydon Gateway Limited Partnership, which owns the building in which the Croydon Visitor Centre has a short term lease, has decided to exercise its option to terminate the lease with the appropriate notice.
"This was always intended to be a temporary arrangement as the buildings do form part of the Ruskin Square development going forward."
The idea of a Boxpark will fit in neatly with the council's strategy of looking for ways of bringing life to development sites before full-scale rebuilding takes place.
And while it would not be drawn on the proposal, a spokesman said: "We are exploring 'meanwhile' uses for various sites across the town centre to generate activity, employment and new business opportunities."
It also dovetails with Stanhope/Schroders' own aim of animating the Ruskin Square site while the longer-term home and offices development unfolds.
Work has already started on the first housing element of the development.
The rumours of a Boxpark in Croydon has been around for many months, with first suggestions being it could sit along the pedestrian link between Lansdowne Road and the new bridge over East Croydon station.
That concept now seems to have been replaced by the site on George Street, in a prime position to attract the thousands of commuters using East Croydon every day.
