Summer 2026 workshop

Local voices help shape a safer, greener Croydon town centre

The Croydon Project has continued its programme of community engagement with two recent workshops focused on safety, public space, sustainability and the future of the town centre.

The first session, led by Publica, brought together 18 local participants alongside members of the project team, ward councillors and Croydon Council staff for a Women, Girls and Non-Binary People’s Safety Walk and workshop. The evening included a guided walk through the town centre followed by a creative discussion about people’s experiences of Croydon during the day and after dark.

Participants spoke with pride and hope about Croydon, while also sharing honest reflections on the challenges that affect how safe and welcoming the town centre feels. A key theme was the impact of maintenance and care, with many participants saying that poorly maintained spaces, empty buildings, unpleasant smells, poor lighting and inactive frontages can contribute to a sense of unease.

There was strong support for bringing buildings back into use, creating more active ground floors, improving lighting and visibility, and designing public spaces that feel inclusive for women, girls, non-binary people, young people, parents and people with accessibility needs. Participants also highlighted the importance of greenery, seating, safe indoor places to rest, and spaces where people can meet, play, perform and spend time without feeling unwelcome.

The discussion showed that safety is not only about design, security or policing. It is also about care, activity, social value and making sure future spaces reflect Croydon’s communities.

Photography by Publica

The second workshop was held with The Croydon Project’s NextGen Panel, a panel of young Croydon residents working with URW to shape the future of their town centre. Hosted by Arup at their central London office and focused on sustainability in the built environment, the session was attended by 22 local young people, the project team, councillors and members of Croydon Council’s placemaking team.

The workshop explored how Croydon can respond and adapt to the effects of a changing climate, before moving into a hands-on placemaking exercise. Young people shared the parts of the town centre they feel proud of and want to keep, as well as the places they would like to change and how those changes could make Croydon work better for their generation.

The session brought forward ideas about how Croydon can become greener, more resilient and more welcoming for young people. After splitting into groups, participants developed ideas for improving the town centre and voted on their favourites. The most popular idea was the introduction of new water features that could create safe, cooling play and activity spaces while enhancing biodiversity. Other ideas included reducing surface flooding through water reuse and built-in mitigation, increasing shaded areas with adaptable, dual-purpose furniture to protect people from sun and rain, and creating new third spaces that could provide safe, cool rooms in the heart of the town centre.

The activities also gave participants a chance to think about the streets, buildings and public spaces that make up the town centre, and how these can be adapted, improved and better used over time. Many of the young people spoke fondly of Allders and discussed how it could be reimagined and brought back to life through The Croydon Project.

Together, the two workshops are helping to shape a more inclusive, sustainable and people-focused vision for Croydon. As The Croydon Project progresses, feedback from local residents, young people, councillors and council officers will continue to play an important role in shaping proposals for North End, Whitgift, Centrale and Allders.

From safer routes and better lighting to greener spaces, active buildings and more places for young people to spend time, these conversations are helping to build a clearer picture of what Croydon’s next chapter should look and feel like.