News

Mayor to invest nearly £3m

in Creative Enterprise Zones

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced a new investment of nearly £3m to boost his Creative Enterprise Zones (CEZ) programme.

Launched by the mayor in 2018, the programme has supported artists, creative businesses and local people entering into the creative sector and securing new jobs.

The innovative programme has supported artists, freelancers and small creative businesses in the capital to thrive by creating long-term affordable workspace, offering business support and helping to develop vital skills. This new investment from City Hall, which builds on the £11m already invested by the mayor, will boost existing CEZs and help bring forward a further six zones over the next two years. Funding will support three new zones in 2021-22 and a further three in 2022-23. The mayor’s intervention comes at a time when the creative and cultural sector is rebuilding following the pandemic, which is made more difficult by the existing challenges of retaining workshops, studios and workspaces against the threat of closure and rising rents. Sadiq Khan said: “Our creative industries are critically important to the fabric of our city and will play an essential part in our economic and social recovery. “The CEZ programme has proved to be a valuable springboard for cultural enterprises right across the city. Throughout the pandemic, it became a lifeline for creative businesses and artists, providing support for them when they needed it most. “That’s why I am investing to create six more zones. London’s cultural and creative sector is a major contributor to the economy, it can help jumpstart the recovery and bring muchneeded tourism to our city. However, support must start at grassroots level, with studio spaces, training and innovation. Investing in our city has never been more important - I’m encouraging local authorities to apply for accreditation and see how a CEZ can benefit your borough.”

£700k funding boost for local high streets

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced a £700,000 funding package for innovative projects aimed at ensuring London’s high streets can flourish and thrive as they emerge from the pandemic.

In partnership with councils, business groups and other local organisations, 35 exemplar projects will be given seed funding of £20,000 each to address issues such as bringing vacant buildings into use, protecting cultural spaces, boosting community business and supporting employment on the high street.

London’s high streets have been impacted hugely by the pandemic, with a loss of more than £5 billion in retail sales just in central London as a result of COVID last year. Across the UK, The British Retail Consortium estimates there are around 5,000 fewer shops since the start of the pandemic, meaning one in seven shops now lie empty. While the longer-term impact of COVID on London’s high streets remains uncertain, the mayor has reiterated that the capital’s leaders will have to be “bold and innovative” over the coming months to ensure high streets can survive as diverse bustling centres of London’s economy. Sadiq Khan said: “I’m pleased to be able to announce new funding for projects all across the capital that are leading the way coming up with solutions for the future of our high streets. Whether it’s new ideas for shared working space, bringing old offices back into use or providing space for exciting cultural activities, these ideas will stimulate economic activity and enrich social and cultural life in our local communities.”

Crossrail concerns continue

London Assembly has responded to a new report from the National Audit Office (NAO) into Crossrail’s 2019 revised schedule and budget.

Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM, said: “It’s deeply disappointing that the cost estimate for Crossrail exceeds the funding package. The current estimate is between £30 million and £218 million above the current available funding to complete the programme, with a middle estimate of £120 million over.

“The full line is expected to open in May 2023, with the central section in the first half of 2022, but it seems current funding will be exhausted sometime between July and September 2022. We need assurances about what is being done now to stop Crossrail running out of money.

“The NAO notes that there are still significant issues that could arise as the railway is brought into service. Crossrail and Transport for London (TfL) need to ensure they have a clear plan for handing the Elizabeth line over, in preparation for the start of passenger services.

“Londoners have waited long enough for this line; they don’t need to have to deal with further problems, once it’s up and running.”

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