The Future of Our Local Economy and Employment Land

The Council appointed an independent Growth Commission to examine options, and the likely impact of pursuing those options, for the future development of the borough. In summary, it endorsed the Council’s ambitious growth strategy of 35,000 new homes and a minimum of 10,000 new jobs by 2035, but that no one should be left behind in its pursuit.

This is the basis for the spatial vision for the borough for the next fifteen years in its Issues and Options Local Plan 2, and which is reinforced by the London Riverside Opportunity Area Planning Framework 3. The key to ensuring no one is left behind is a coherent economic development, employment land and skills strategy.

Evidence is needed to understand the strengths and weakness of the borough’s existing business base, the growth sectors we should be attracting and the skills and the capacities residents needs to compete for new jobs both locally and within adjacent growth areas. This commission is unique; it includes elements, of economic development strategy, employment land review, economic audit, viability assessment, quantitative survey work and urban design analysis.

This work has been brought together to assess how we develop our local economy, skills our residents and plan employment sites. Please see the attached brief for more details.