West London Economic Development Strategy December 2004 This report was commissioned by West London Partnership and undertaken by Robert Huggins Associates and Rubicon Regeneration. The views expressed in the Strategy are those of West London Partnership and do not necessarily reflect those of the London Development Agency or the Greater London Authority Group. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the contents of the report are accurate, neither the London Development Agency or the Greater London Authority Group accept responsibility for any inaccuracies in the data Prepared for West London Partnership in collaboration with the LDA, WLA and WLB by: West London | Economic Development Strategy 2 Contents 5 BUSINESS COMPETITIVENESS 73 5.1 Background 73 INTRODUCTION 5 5.2 Strategic Context 73 5.3 Key Issues 96 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7 5.4 Objectives and Rationale 100 2 VISION 25 6 LAND AND PROPERTY 102 6.1 Background 103 3 WEST LONDON CONTEXT 28 6.2 Strategic Context 104 3.1 Overview of West London 32 6.3 Key Issues 110 3.2 International Setting 36 6.4 Objectives and Rationale 116 3.3 West London and its Surrounding Regions 40 3.4 Drivers 47 7 HOUSING 119 7.1 Background 119 4 SKILLS FOR GROWTH 56 7.2 Strategic Context 121 4.1 Background 56 7.3 Key Issues 124 4.2 Strategic Context 56 7.4 Objectives and Rationale 133 4.3 Key Issues 58 4.4 Objectives and Rationale 71 West London | Economic Development Strategy 3 8 TRANSPORT 136 11 APPENDIX 186 8.1 Background 136 Appendix A: Summary of Transport Data for West 8.2 Strategic Context 138 London 186 8.3 Key Issues 143 Appendix B: Glossary 198 8.4 Objectives and Rationale 158 9 THE ENVIRONMENT AND QUALITY OF LIFE 161 9.1 Background 161 9.2 Strategic Context 163 9.3 Key Issues 171 9.4 Objectives and Rationale 174 10 BRANDING 176 10.1 Background 176 10.2 Strategic Context 176 10.3 Key Issues 180 10.4 Objectives and Rationale 183 West London | Economic Development Strategy 4 Introduction We want to create a place where environmental resources are valued, enjoyed and protected, and high quality education, health care and As a dynamic economic powerhouse, and a model of successful cultural leisure facilities are available for everyone. and racial diversity, West London is a cosmopolitan and globally minded sub-region that contributed £27 billion pounds towards the nation’s Transport must be at the heart of the vision and we are committed to wealth last year. Home to almost 1.5 million people, blue-chip improving the sub-region’s accessibility and reducing congestion. multinationals, thriving small and medium enterprises, Heathrow Airport and Wembley, it offers a unique place to live and work. This document is a framework for future action. It provides the rationale for a comprehensive programme to support West London’s economic West London is also set to grow and change. With the London Plan prosperity and long-term fiscal competitiveness. Steered by extensive forecasting major increases in population, homes and jobs, the sub- consultation, with professionals and stakeholders, it proposes a strategic region is determined to shape its own future. It aims to harness the direction to focus the energies of all stakeholders towards a common opportunities being generated, and to realise its own vision for a vision. The West London Economic Development Strategy exists to sustainable, high quality environment for work, life and leisure. complement and support the delivery of the vision of the London Plan Our West London Economic Development Strategy, developed by the and the forthcoming Sub-Regional Development Framework. If West London Partnership, represents a road map for the future. It takes necessary it also challenges it, offering solutions which we feel are the a hard look at the issues facing individuals and businesses in the sub- best for West London and the capital as a whole. region. A continuing theme is to keep West London forefront in the minds of Our vision celebrates diversity, promotes social cohesion and positions those who make key investment and policy decisions. Nurturing West London as a choice location for companies and individuals. It entrepreneurship and promoting technological advance will secure West pictures a sub-region where businesses invest and expand, where there London’s future as a significant location for corporate management and is an entrepreneurial culture with a vibrant and thriving SME sector, and HQ activities. The challenge for business is to adopt policies which where a strong and active voluntary and community sector plays an facilitate rapid integration and support for newcomers with transferable essential role. skills. West London | Economic Development Strategy 5 The production of this Strategy is an important milestone in itself, but now the strategic objectives will be translated into reality in an Implementation Plan. This will provide the opportunity for innovative forms of private/public partnerships to participate in concrete programmes and projects. The integration of this Economic Development Strategy with the sub- region’s environmental and social development will be furthered by the production of the London Plan’s Sub-Regional Development Framework for West London. We warmly acknowledge the many contributions made to strengthening sub-regional collaboration across West London. Only with strong partnership between the public, private and voluntary sector in West London, working together with the major regional players, can we deliver a West London that has pride of place in the capital. Councillor John Cudmore, WLA Joint Chair West London Partnership Peter Handcock, WLB Joint Chair West London Partnership West London | Economic Development Strategy 6 Executive Summary 1 Executive Summary and Skills Council, the six West London borough councils, businesses and voluntary and community sector organisations. The Strategy and the Wider Context West London Partnership 1.1 A great deal of work has already been completed by pan-London 1.5 The West London Alliance, comprising the six West London and regional agencies, in particular the production of the London Plan borough councils and West London Business (the sub-regional business and the draft London Economic Development Strategy (EDS). A key role membership organisation for West London), formed the West London of the West London EDS is to support and build on this work. This Partnership in 2000. The West London Network for voluntary and Strategy has also been developed in line with the strategies of West community organisations and the London West Learning and Skills London’s partners. Council joined the Partnership in 2004. Implementing the Strategy About West London 1.2 The lifespan of the Strategy will coincide with that of the London 1.6 West London possesses a number of unique factors that EDS and will be fully reviewed within the next year to ensure that it is distinguish its economy from its neighbours and the rest of the UK. compatible with the final West London Sub-Regional Development These include Heathrow Airport, a significant creative industries sector, Framework as well as the final London EDS. some of the biggest blue chip businesses in the world, a significant concentration of employment within the transport and logistics sector, 1.3 This will be a living, breathing, constantly evolving document and particularly within air transport, and excellent road, rail and air links to all will provide a platform from which to plan and deliver real projects during parts of Britain. the period of its lifespan. These will be realised through an Implementation Plan that will be produced in consultation with partners 1.7 With a population of almost 1.5 million people West London is a and stakeholders across the sub-region. large and diverse economy which contributes £27 billion to the UK economy and employs almost 750,000 people. One of West London’s 1.4 Primarily, it will be implemented through the mainstream key strengths is that it has a diverse, energetic and dynamic population, programmes and action plans of partner agencies such as the London with some 35% of residents from black and minority ethnic communities. Development Agency, Transport for London, the London West Learning This rich, multi-cultural and international base provides a strong link to international communities and markets. West London | Economic Development Strategy 7 characterises its competitive position relative to other sub-regions. West 1.8 Whilst an overview of West London reveals a relatively London contributes approximately 17% of the output of Greater London. prosperous area the reality for some is very different: significant pockets of deprivation exist within the sub-region. Unemployment in West London 1.13 Output per capita and per worker within West London exceeds is also relatively high at 6.4%. the British average, although West London lags behind the rest of London. 1.9 West London generally possesses a high quality environment, with large areas of open space, parkland and green belt land for leisure 1,14 Employment growth experienced by West London since 1994 and recreation. However, its natural environment is under pressure from has exceeded national growth in employment, but is similar to growth in development – population densities, transport levels and economic London. activities exert significant pressures on environmental quality 1.15 Whilst overall levels of health are not dissimilar to London and 1.10 The sub-region’s public transport network is extensive, with a the South East generally, in West London there are local concentrations large number of underground, overland and bus connections with the of poor health. centre of London. However road traffic congestion on major roads such as the A4, M4 and M40 is a growing problem, as is the associated 1.16 West London, like London as a whole, has a considerably higher pollution.