Opportunity Sutton Unlocking Economic Growth “Our vision is for Sutton to be an Borough of Sutton 2 Why choose Sutton? 3 enterprising, enabling borough that is Priorities for growth 5 a magnet for business investment; that Prosperity 7 People 9 welcomes new entrepreneurs and social Place 11 enterprises; nurtures its business base Delivering the vision 13 and removes barriers to enterprise. We want Sutton to have a competitive edge over our neighbours.”

We know our borough is attractive so we can court investment confidently. Growth is essential for Sutton, but that growth must be sustainable and be shared across the borough among all of our residents. Our commitment, outlined through the One Planet Living Action Plan, is to use our resources responsibly. To create sustainable growth and strengthen our core values of making a place that is fairer, cleaner, greener and safer, we aim to become the London Leader in One Planet Living.

Cllr Jayne McCoy Chair, Housing, Economy and Business Committee

Sutton High Street 1 Tramlink to Wimbledon Rail to Clapham Junction

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Sutton centre is Zone 5, less than 30 CITY minutes by train from central London and TO VICTORIA easily accessible by public transport to HEATHROW LONDON the south and west of London, including BRIDGE Victoria, Clapham Junction, London Bridge, LAMBETH RICHMOND UPON CLAPHAM Croydon, Wimbledon, and Kingston-upon- THAMES Thames. Sutton also has easy access to MERTON Europe via St Pancras International, Gatwick KINGSTON BROMLEY which is less than 15 miles away and the CROYDON X26 travelling towards Heathrow. SUTTON An extensive bus and tramline network EPSOM AND serves the Borough. There is excellent EWELL parking in three safe multi-story car parks in Sutton town centre.

GATWICK Map not to scale 2 Why choose Sutton? Sutton is a great place to live and a great place to invest. It is home to 200,000 residents and boasts a range of economic, educational, business and environmental success factors. View from Trinity Square High quality housing A safe borough Sutton has plenty of high-quality housing, Sutton is the third safest borough in London relatively affordable by London standards and crime is lower than it has been for a (average price £244,620 in Feb 2012). Over decade. 84% of Sutton housing is owner-occupied or private rented, higher than the rest of South Outstanding green spaces London and London as a whole. The Borough is also known for its outstanding green spaces. Sutton boasts 1,500 acres of open space and the largest regional park outside of London, and is a

High Street Spring Clean leader in environmental performance. A recent MORI survey revealed that 75% of Designated development sites our residents regularly use Sutton’s parks, Sutton has a significant number of with 89% expressing satisfaction with them. designated development sites, providing opportunities that are not present in surrounding boroughs.

Carshalton Park

Village feel Sutton is famous for its small district centres, many of them retaining a ‘village’ atmosphere not seen in central London.

Taylor Wimpey’s Centrale development, Hackbridge

3 Skilled workforce Sutton has a skilled workforce with almost one third of employees with a degree level qualification or higher.

Worcester Park Brandon Conrad, Sheesh Mangal, Worcester Park

Multiple district centres Vibrant business sector As well as Sutton Town Centre, the Borough The Borough is enterprising and has seven district centres which contribute commercially active with more than 6,600 to the vitality and prosperity of the Borough. businesses. In 2011, 13.2% new businesses Sutton Rail Station started up in Sutton compared to the previous year. Good transport links Sutton’s south London location positions it perfectly for transport in and out of London and internationally. There are direct rail links into the capital and on to Europe, with fast trains to both Victoria and London Bridge. Gatwick airport is just 15 miles away.

Sutton Grammar School at Manor Park

High achieving schools Chancery House, Sutton Town Centre The Borough is renowned for its high- achieving schools with the latest league Tech-ready tables showing our pupils’ achievements at Much of Sutton is already equipped to GCSE as one of the best in the country. connect with national and international markets with super-fast broadband capacity.

Manor Park

Hackbridge Station 1 Throwley Way

4 Sutton’s Priorities for Growth Sutton’s priorities represent the strategic drivers that will accelerate recovery, nurture sustainable development and build a more resilient and adaptable economy for everyone in Sutton.

The national context - harnessing Sutton and the recession: Themes for Growth national policy changes bucking the trend! The three themes are firmly interlinked and mutually create the whole Sutton Offer. We are writing at a time when the UK economy Sutton has avoided many of the worst effects of Together they will help achieve our vision. has shrunk and growth is stalled for the the recession and is well positioned for growth. foreseeable future. Businesses of all types Prosperity have suffered across the UK – empty shop Employment New ways to develop business, encourage units; struggling restaurants and other service Sutton has 78% of its residents in work – the investment and create opportunities for businesses; and rising unemployment, particularly highest in London. Unemployment is 2% points enterprising local people. in the vulnerable 16-24 age group. It is a tough lower than the London average. Sutton residents time to start a business – and an equally tough work in a wide range of occupations – most People time to keep one going. people work in administration, health, education Enabling all our residents to share in the and financial services with construction, growth by aligning training, skills and Since the 2010 general election, the Government manufacturing and transport all well represented. apprenticeships to employment and has sought to create the conditions for the private The GLA predict that Sutton will create an business opportunities. sector to lead national economic recovery, while additional 15% of jobs by 2026. at the same time incentivising local government to Place promote growth through physical expansion and Retail Marketing our development opportunities encouraging communities and social enterprises High-quality businesses like Patisserie Valerie and innovative use of neighbourhood to take responsibility for delivering services. have chosen to locate in Sutton – and some planning to unlock the potential of each area Initiatives include: big national multiples have renewed their of the borough. commitment. Footfall in Sutton town centre has Localism, decentralisation and the Big Society – fallen slightly but big events in the high street can empowering local authorities and communities to attract 25,000 people in a single day. 10 shape their local area and services. Business and Industry Open government services, commissioning and New business start-ups have grown rapidly procurement – promoting opportunities for local compared with the previous year. Strong demand SMEs, social enterprises and communities to bid continues for industrial land with good access to for public service delivery. the A217.

New planning policy framework – a simplified approach to development planning with a commitment to sustainable development.

New funding opportunities for local authorities such as reduced business rates for start-ups, Community Infrastructure Levy, Tax Increment Financing and the Growing Places Fund.

Protecting local high streets – Government support for implementing its “town centres first” approach.

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6 Prosperity – helping businesses succeed Businesses are the lifeblood of the economy – and we are convinced that sustainable prosperity is all about helping local business succeed.

Sutton wants to ‘get the basics right’ for economic growth across the borough by providing the right support for businesses of all sizes, from entrepreneurial start-ups, to SMEs and large corporates. We need to take particular account of the micro- businesses employing four people or less, which form a large proportion of Sutton’s current business base.

We can do this by creating a business network bringing our smaller businesses together so that they can share good practice and combine their resources for their shared benefit. We are also committed to stimulating social enterprises in the borough and supporting them to provide valuable local services.

Paul Curtis, Sutton SuperBowl 7 Our Agenda for Action

Attracting inward investment We will hold an Opportunity Sutton Inward We will maintain a Business Property Database Investment Event in June 2012 to promote for inward investors and a property service for commercial development sites across the existing local firms looking to expand. borough for investors, businesses and agents to see firsthand why Sutton is the place for business. We will establish a new Economic Renewal Unit to attract inward investment and promote business investment through sound planning and support services.

Helping new businesses start and grow We will create our first Business Start-up and We will develop a Business Start-Up Pack for all Incubation Centre in North Cheam in partnership new businesses, updating them on the support with SCOLA – providing advice, support, available from the council and partners. networking and guidance. We will consider Reduced Business Rates for We will facilitate a Smarter Business start-ups, using new council powers to make Development Event jointly with Sutton Chamber sure Sutton remains an attractive place for new of Commerce in September 2012, to help businesses. enterprising people about to start a business. We will promote a new Business Mentoring Scheme to nurture small businesses.

Making businesses more competitive We will support the Successful Sutton We will use the Green Deal framework to campaign for a Business Improvement District generate business opportunities in energy (BID) for the town centre, to improve its look, feel assessment and installation. and safety and to improve business performance. We will form a Business Board to provide a We will develop a Green Enterprise Partnership ‘voice of business’ in the borough, as a forum for to boost the green economy in Sutton – the private and third sectors to discuss enterprise, promoting energy efficient buildings; attracting innovation, growth, skills and jobs. businesses working in sustainability and green technologies; and creating green jobs and We will promote National Market Day by apprenticeships. cutting the red tape and encouraging Sutton’s entrepreneurs to pitch up and sell their wares unhindered by unnecessary bureaucracy.

Council innovations supporting We will set up Town Teams for our key district We will draw on experiences from shaping prosperity centres to provide a strong, visionary and the local social care market, to adopt a operational approach to our high streets in line commissioning approach to support and with Mary Portas’ recommendations. stimulate a mixed economy of local entrepreneurial and good value providers. We will exploit the Government’s new policies for economic growth by considering new funding We will also assist local small businesses and mechanisms – including business rate retention, social enterprises to tender for council services Tax Increment Financing, New Homes Bonus and through a new 2012 Corporate Procurement other infrastructure pots. Strategy.

Left: Simon Warrender, S. Warrender & Co. Right: Hackbridge

8 People – helping residents get the jobs they want We want any future growth to be shared by everyone in the Borough, which means getting more Sutton residents back into work: younger people and people with disabilities into effective apprenticeships and placements.

Sutton has historically experienced high levels of employment thanks to its skilled workforce and great location. The recession has seen the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance increase and rising levels of long-term unemployment.

Young people have been particularly hard hit by the recession and are missing out on their first jobs. Sutton’s partnership-working is renowned and the council is well placed to take a more proactive role in aligning employers, skills providers and individual learner demand.

We are determined to match local skills provision with the employment market to help residents get the jobs they want.

Mislav Kapetanovic, VinBin, Worcester Park 9 Our Agenda for Action

New approaches to employment We will build on the success of the Sutton We will work more closely with our prime contractors in the government’s Work Programme support Housing Partnership which has created a number of effective employment schemes such as to ensure our employment opportunities target “Apprenticeship Scheme”, “Building Lives the long-term unemployed. Academy” and “Women in Construction”.

Getting young people into quality jobs We will draw up a Youth Employment Plan, to We will work with local employers to increase be led and delivered by a Sutton Employment effective apprenticeships and work place Network drawn widely from all sectors and initiatives such as work trials. advised by 16-24 year olds themselves. We will create more job placements for young We will ensure that all 16-24 year olds have a people by building better links between education Personal Learning and Development Plan. providers and business leaders.

We will ensure that providers offer consistent information, advice and guidance to young people and offer education and training that matches job opportunities.

Council innovations to get people We will build on the Council’s own We will use the newly commissioned employment into jobs Apprenticeship Scheme which has already land study to match new commercial provided 80 job opportunities for young people. developments to local employment needs.

We will promote routes into employment for people with disabilities through our successful Routes to Work initiative.

We will actively promote and support the Council’s Procurement Pledge, which is a commitment by local suppliers to create jobs and training opportunities through the Council’s supply chain – with a special focus on stimulating social enterprises.

Left: Bob Law and staff, TaZza Coffee Right: Student at SCOLA

10 Place – unlocking development potential Economies grow in places – town centres, industrial sites, business parks and local neighbourhoods - and Sutton’s places have huge potential for sustainable development.

Sutton is a brilliant place to work, live, do business and enjoy green open space and our residents regularly make their satisfaction known. But we want more, we need a healthy supply of modern office space, opportunities for retail and leisure, thriving industrial estates and vibrant local and sustainable communities.

Our business locations need the right infrastructure investment to meet current and future needs. There are several underused and vacant sites and properties in the Borough. These ‘stalled’ development sites need to come forward with deliverable projects for productive commercial use. In addition, our district centres need more TLC if they are to become attractive, vibrant, cultural hubs which can stimulate economic growth in the retail and hospitality sector. The attraction of inward investment and the generation of opportunities for growth are greatly supported by the effective development of the physical assets of the Borough.

Sutherland House ready for development 11 Our Agenda for Action

Development of opportunity sites and We will make use of the resources set to become Cheam and Worcester Park, alongside a new local regeneration available under the reform of the Housing Review local business network and the creation of new Account and the governments new Rights to Buy vibrant areas for the community. policy to deliver a significant programme of new local authority homes for rent. We will draw up plans to regenerate the Wandle Valley Regional Park which is identified in the We will actively promote the ‘Sutton Offer’ sites Mayor’s London Plan. This network of green to potential developers through the Opportunity infrastructure will reach out from the river corridor Sutton Inward Investment Event and the to adjacent areas of open space, residential and “Sitematch” website. business areas.

We will use new funding to carry out major public We will seek London-wide funding for the realm and shop front improvements in North Regional Park.

Transport and infrastructure We will lobby TfL for the extension of the ensure that firms are connected to markets and Croydon Tramlink Network to Sutton Town supply chains – wherever these may be. Centre, building on the very strong business case with funding targeted for 2018. We will review the Sutton parking offer to explore inventive ways of encouraging more We will work with BT to roll out superfast shoppers into our town and district centres. broadband across all our district centres to

Council Innovations for improving place We will produce a community-endorsed We will provide leadership by using our new Neighbourhood Plan for Hackbridge by the powers and existing economic assets in end of 2012 – and we will roll out a programme innovative ways to help bring about improvements of support for Neighbourhood Plans across the in place across the borough. borough to empower communities to shape the growth and development of their areas. We will promote Sutton as a visitor destination through our heritage sites and historic attractions. We will exploit a range of funding tools now available to the Council – including Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) which is a flexible tariff on all new development; Outer London Funds (OLF) and Growing Places Fund.

Sustainability and One Planet Living We will continue to adhere to the ten principles We will build on Sutton’s “jewel in the crown” – of One Planet Living framework to help us the unique Hackbridge Sustainable Suburb. live and work within our fair share of the earth’s resources. OPL is a simple way to plan, deliver We will secure 1,500 new homes of the highest and mainstream sustainable development and the environmental standards; the first wave of green green economy. economy business support and public realm investment; and a Decentralised Energy & Heat Network.

Left: Ten principles of One Planet Living framework 1 Zero carbon Right: BedZED, Hackbridge 2 Zero waste 3 Sustainable transport 4 Sustainable materials 5 Local and sustainable food 6 Sustainable water 7 Land use and wildlife 8 Culture and community 9 Equity and local economy 10 Health and happiness

12 Delivering the Vision Sutton Council is determined to create the right conditions for a prosperous, enterprising and sustainable future. The ‘Opportunity Sutton’ vision is built upon an integrated and mutually supporting set of priorities: Prosperity, People and Place, which we will promote and drive forward with our partners over the next three years.

Ruth Dombey, Leader of the Council Investment, the Sutton Youth Employment town and district centres, land fit for “Sutton is an excellent place to live. Now we Plan and the growth of social enterprises development and an economic renewal are promoting Sutton as an excellent place throughout the Borough. team committed to ensuring the borough to do business, and we are actively seeking exploits its many opportunities. These are new investment. Opportunity Sutton is our We will restructure our staff resources to the levers for growth. agenda for action, driving a programme of ensure our teams are aligned fully with the activities with our partners in each of our key aims and aspirations of the vision – the Sutton is one of only four Metropolitan areas of Prosperity, People and Places.” Economic Development Unit delivering Centres in south London and the eighth inward investment and the Town Teams largest centre in the capital. However, we This Statement, a powerful mix of policy providing a strategic and management need to step up a gear and become more and ambition, is the first bold step to structure for local delivery. To make sure that dynamic to compete with our neighbouring demonstrate our commitment and intentions we deliver our aspirations we have a detailed centres. Sutton needs a strong, ambitious for growth. We are aware growth will not action plan with targets and time scales. plan to actively release its opportunities for happen spontaneously and that we need growth. to work hard to ensure it happens. This Why this Statement? Statement is a strong, deliverable plan to Sutton recognises that despite our intrinsic This Statement is a manifesto and our create real growth within the Borough. strengths, the global recession and poor commitment to economic growth in the national economic growth have impacted borough with a vision for sustainable growth The measures outlined form a new approach locally on the borough, creating new social from which everyone can benefit. to ensure the successful Sutton of the and economic challenges. Sutton wants future. They exploit new powers given to the to confront these challenges and this Council, residents and businesses to create Statement’s objective is to achieve strong, fresh opportunities and shape their own sustainable, shared solutions at a local level. neighbourhoods. Sutton is a good place to do business. We are evolving our approach to Building on our rich heritage as an innovative 1 St Nicholas Shopping Centre commissioning and procurement to make it borough, we have the right environment 2 All Bar One within reach of small businesses and social to help entrepreneurs make a healthy 3 Phoenix Centre, Wallington enterprises that can also provide effective return on their investment. Already one 4 French Market stall 5 Cheam Park of the best places in London to live, work and valuable services. 6 SCOLA – Sutton College of Learning for Adults We will provide leadership across all and do business, Sutton is culturally and 7 Felnex Trading Estate, Hackbridge sectors in delivering our aspirations for One economically vibrant. It has an impressive 8 Sutton Rail Station Planet Living, Opportunity Sutton Inward business base, a skilled workforce, thriving 9 Worcester Park 13 1 2

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14 For further information about Opportunity Sutton and to get involved, please contact

Amanda Cherrington Head of Economic Renewal and Business Environment [email protected] 0208 770 5530

Sally Blomfield Principal Planner [email protected] 0208 770 6253

Kirsty Allen Business Enterprise Manager [email protected] 0208 770 5987

Sutton Borough Council Civic Offices St Nicholas Way Sutton SM1 1EA

Photography Sutton Film Office Mickey Lee / The Means

Front cover images (left to right) Quadrant House, Sutton Town Centre Beddington Zero Energy Development, Hackbridge Sustainabe Suburb Cheam Park www.sutton.gov.uk Printed on 100% Recycled Paper