Croydon Council is set to consolidate several key customer-facing services into a single 'Front Door' reception at Cavendish House, located at 51-55 South End. The decision, made by the Council's Cabinet on Wednesday, 29 July 2026, is part of a wider Town Hall Campus Programme aimed at improving resident experience and making better use of the Council's operational estate.
The consolidation of services into Cavendish House is part of the wider Town Hall Campus Programme, which aims to make better use of the Council's operational estate
and rationalise the Council's property portfolio, supports the future release of surplus assets and reduces the ongoing costs associated with maintaining a dispersed estate.
The relocation of Parking Services from Davis House is a key enabling step in facilitating the future disposal of the asset.
The report also notes that retaining Cavendish House means the financial opportunity cost of not disposing this asset at this moment in time
is recognised, but the consolidation is considered the strongest option for delivering the front facing improvements a consolidated front door provides.
The consolidated services will include Housing Needs and Homelessness, Youth Justice Service and Young Croydon, Children Looked After (CLA) care experienced children, Children's Early Help Triage, Adult Social Care Triage, and Parking Services. This move is intended to create a more integrated service delivery model.
The implementation of the consolidation of front-door services into Cavendish House will be phased during 2026. The first phase will involve the relocation of the Housing Needs & Homelessness reception service. Subsequent phases will support the co-location of Parking Services and further accommodation changes for Children's, Young People and Education (CYPE) services.
Cavendish House was chosen as the most suitable location after an appraisal of nine potential sites. The building is already configured to accommodate public-facing Children's, Young People and Education (CYPE) services, with existing reception, waiting, and interview facilities. This configuration is expected to significantly reduce the level of alteration required compared to other sites.
The consolidation of services into Cavendish House is expected to deliver benefits beyond improving customer access.
The new provision at Cavendish House will offer more interviews and assessments facilities and better family friendly spaces for customers.
Residents will continue to access services in the same way, with the proposal affecting solely the location from which services are delivered. Measures are being put in place to ensure accessibility and ease of access for residents visiting Cavendish House, particularly for vulnerable individuals or those with specific needs. The report states that the consolidation will allow the best overall fit across safeguarding/security, operational functionality, strategic fit, equality impact/customer experience, location/accessibility, financial suitability and deliverability.
Assisted access arrangements will be in place for residents who are digitally excluded, have literacy difficulties, language barriers, or other difficulties accessing appointment-based services. Reception staff will provide signposting, support in making contact with services, and escalation to officers where necessary.
The relocation of Parking Services from Davis House is also a key step in facilitating the future disposal of that asset, supporting the Council's wider estate rationalisation goals. The co-location of Parking Services into Cavendish House supports the planned disposal strategy for Davis House, which is expected to generate a significant capital receipt and revenue saving, subject to further due diligence and disposal decisions.
The decision also means Cavendish House will be retained for operational use, removing it from the Tranche Two Disposal Programme.
Cabinet approved the retention of Cavendish House and delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Executive Mayor and Deputy Executive Mayor and Cabinet Member for Finance, to implement the decision. The consolidation is expected to be phased, with Housing Needs and Homelessness reception moving first, followed by Parking Services and other CYPE services.
Beyond improved resident experience and estate rationalisation, the consolidation of services into Cavendish House aims to improve resident experience, integrate service delivery, and make better use of the Council's operational estate.
For residents, the new provision will offer more interviews and assessments facilities and better family friendly spaces for customers.
For the Council, the move supports the wider aspiration to create a more efficient, sustainable and integrated operational estate.
