THE CROYDON PROMISE GROWTH FOR ALL The Growth Plan builds from our existing strategic policies, including: the Croydon Local Plan: Strategic Policies 2013; the emerging Croydon Local Plan: Detailed Policies and Proposals and Croydon Local Plan: Strategic Policies Partial Review; and the Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP). The Promise and the Place Plans do not form part of the Council’s Development Plan for the purpose of planning decisions. The Croydon Promise - Growth For All Contents Section A: Building on our 4 strengths 7 10 Preface 1. Croydon in 2020 2. Croydon today Section B: Central Croydon: Section C: The metropolitan 15 Place plans 24 28 centre 3. Central 4. North of 5. New Addington Croydon Croydon and Fieldway Section D: The investment 32 36 programmes 41 44 6. East of 7. South of 8. Homes: A great 9. The best location Croydon Croydon place to live in London to start and grow a business 47 49 50 53 10. Technology 11. Pathways to 12. The best place to 13. Transport Croydon employment learn in London and access Section E: Moving forward 57 58 14. Giving back to the 15. Managing community growth THE CROYDON PROMISE: GROWTH FOR ALL 3 The Croydon Promise - Growth For All Preface Over £9billion will be invested in Croydon over the next five years. Our investment programme is larger than any city in England, one of the largest in London, and comparable in scale to the Olympic Park. This means that Croydon is again driving Over the past two decades, Croydon has We are under no illusion about the growth in Greater London – the powerhouse not fulfilled its potential – “business as challenge of delivering and managing the of the UK economy and establishing itself usual” is not an option. There are 11,000 scale of planned growth at a time when as a modern European City. fewer jobs now than in 2007. Several the council continues to face pressures communities, mainly in the north of the to cut spending. It makes it all the more This investment will transform Croydon’s borough, suffer from high and persistent imperative we focus investment where it communities and the metropolitan centre. levels of deprivation. Like the rest of London, will have the greatest impact. It means we For our residents, it means more job owning or renting a home is increasingly need to find innovative solutions to make opportunities, more affordable homes to out of reach for many residents. public money go further – like our new buy or rent, more places to learn and a Revolving Investment Fund. better choice of leisure facilities. It means Investing in all of Croydon’s communities the opportunity to live more independently, will be at the heart of everything we do. The council will lead from the front in in more attractive, healthier and safer Internationally, there is growing evidence making growth happen. This document, neighbourhoods where it is easier to get that when the gap between rich and poor The Croydon Promise: Growth For All, is around on foot, by bicycle, tram or train. becomes too large it undermines growth. our commitment to residents, investors, This will not happen in Croydon, as we will developers and businesses that the council Our transport connections to and make sure that growth benefits residents will do all it can to deliver growth, which from central London, the rest of South from all different backgrounds. Our Fairness is inclusive and sustainable – for all. It London, and Gatwick mean the borough Commission will ensure that Croydon is a follows the pledges set out in Ambitious is an exceptionally attractive location for place of opportunity that reaches out to all for Croydon. It is part of our Growth Plan, business with access to a wide pool of of its communities, providing support for which includes Place Plans for each area, skilled workers. Further growth of Gatwick people to lead independent, healthy, and and a Five Year Integrated Delivery Plan is continuing to strengthen Croydon’s productive lives. to manage the scale of activity during this competitive advantage. Our schools are period of rapid growth. performing above the national average, and some like the Brit school, London’s leading creative academy, are outstanding. To enhance the cultural offer for Croydon, our emerging strategy is in development to address all elements of culture. Tony Newman Leader of the council September 2014 4 THE CROYDON PROMISE: GROWTH FOR ALL The Croydon Promise - Growth For All 10 Things We Must Do 1 2 3 housing jobs Westfield 9,500 starts 16,000 Hammerson Provide a choice of homes for Enable the creation of 16,000 jobs Oversee the development of one of people at all stages of life, addressing - accessible to all - in a range of Europe’s largest urban shopping and housing shortages in the borough by growing sectors including creative, leisure centres – the Whitgift redevel- enabling at least 9,500 housing starts digital and information technology; opment, support independent retailers, over the next five years. financial and professional services; and invest in Fairfield Halls further construction; retail; leisure; education; strengthening our cultural offer. health and social care. 4 5 6 new Attracting business 1 million sq.ft investment 2,000 starts High-quality office space Attract investment to our district Make Croydon the best place in Reinstate Croydon’s position as and local centres, creating vibrant London to start a new business a premier office location by communities across the borough and enabling 2,000 new business starts accelerating the development of over ensuring that all of Croydon is a great per annum, and support the growth of one million sq ft of new high-quality place to live, work and visit. small and medium sized businesses. office space, and reducing the excess supply of older office stock while delivering a high quality Tech hub. 7 8 9 international calibre Transport Support residents University Network into employment Raise aspirations of residents through Improvements Support residents - young and old partnering with an international - into employment by implementing calibre university to offer more Improve the transport network our new Pathways to Employment higher education in the borough, across the borough, providing genuine programme; raising the skills of the to raise the number of residents alternatives to the private car, and workforce; and ensuring the skills with degree level qualifications strengthening links with Gatwick airport. system is responsive to the needs of and to bring a new vibrancy to the local employers. metropolitan centre. 10 Buy local Buy local wherever possible and use the council’s purchasing power to support local businesses, generate job opportunities, and promote investment in our local communities. THE CROYDON PROMISE: GROWTH FOR ALL 5 Section A: Building on our strengths 6 THE CROYDON PROMISE: GROWTH FOR ALL Section A: Building on our strengths 1. Croydon in 2020 Our ambition: growth for all Croydon is a vibrant and diverse borough of many places where brilliant people live and work. Our vision for Croydon is to create a place By 2020… where: • Our economy will be growing • Croydon will confirm its position • Everyone is proud to live, where rapidly: 16,000 new jobs will have as South London’s primary communities are more inclusive and been created across the borough commercial centre: New offices equal, where every person can reach for residents of all backgrounds and will be focused around East Croydon their full potential and enjoy the benefits skill levels in a range of growing and redevelopment of East Croydon of a vibrant expanding economy. sectors including financial and station will be well underway, offering professional services; creative, even better access to and from central • Companies and entrepreneurs are digital and information technologies; London, Gatwick, and the South East. proud to invest because Croydon construction; retail; leisure; education; is a great place to do business, with health and social care. • Croydon will be one of London’s modern offices in a cosmopolitan most enterprising boroughs: Our centre and strong district centres, all • New houses will be being built at internationally recognised creative, served by world-class digital networks. a faster rate: 9,500 homes will have digital and information technology Our industrial areas provide a range started on site providing a choice of cluster will be part of a thriving of employment in manufacturing, homes for people to buy or rent. community of entrepreneurs. warehousing and distribution. • The metropolitan centre will offer • Croydon will be a place that is easy • Residents from across South London, the most exciting shopping and to move around: Genuine alternatives Surrey, East and West Sussex and leisure experience in London and to the private car will be available, Kent come to visit, attracted by one the South East: One of Europe’s offering people the choice to travel by of Europe’s largest retail and leisure largest urban shopping malls, the train, tram, bus, bicycle, or on foot. malls, and the ‘new’ Cultural Quarter. Whitgift redevelopment, will be open. A new ‘cultural quarter’ around College • Croydon will be a hub for • Families and single people, young Green will have emerged with the learning: We will have attracted an and old can afford to rent or buy a modernised Fairfield Halls one of the internationally recognised university, home, in a decent, safe, and vibrant star attractions. which together with our colleges and neighbourhood well served by their schools will make Croydon amongst district centre. • Our district and local centres will the best places to learn in Europe. be ‘neighbourhoods of choice’: With their own distinctive characters, they • Croydon will be a city in all but will provide a mix of new homes, jobs name: With a total population over and community facilities.