Investing in our communities and businesses

By Executive Mayor Jason Perry

Croydon was the first borough in London to launch a local Growth Plan earlier this year – backed by nearly £40m of funding from the government, Growth Zone funding and other sources. It is all about kickstarting regeneration and restoring pride in our borough.

Our Plan is already making a real difference – not just in the town centre, but across our district centres with funding from UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). We have invested £3.2m on 15 projects, with a further £1.4m committed for this financial year, bringing the total to £4.3m. All the projects support my commitment to creating a cleaner, safer Croydon and to help restore pride in the borough.

This year we teamed up with the Thornton Heath community to transform an overgrown patch of land in into a new learning garden for local school children. Colliers Water Garden is now a secure green space with bug hotels, raised beds filled with edible and sensory plants, and areas for play and exploration.

Other UKSPF-funded projects were in Purley, with new public art, lighting, and green space upgrades, in partnership with Purley BID (Business Improvement District); a history project and new wayfinding signage in Selsdon; the refurbishment of the market square in New Addington, and electrical works to support a new night/weekend market with London Road Traders Association in West Croydon. All projects were shaped by residents and local groups, focusing on community, local businesses and skills.

In our plans for 2025-26, we will continue to help Croydon’s businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive – by offering 1-2-1 business support and workshops and specialist support for female entrepreneurs. Opportunities will be created for vulnerable young people who are not in education or work (NEETs), whilst those looking to start a business can access advice and events through my Executive Mayor’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy, for 18-35-year-olds. I established the Academy with our partners in 2023 to support Croydon’s next generation of entrepreneurs and I look forward to meeting the next cohort and finding out about their ideas.

We will also be making improvements to town centres and public spaces in New Addington, Thornton Heath, Coulsdon and South Croydon. It is vital that the regeneration of our high streets happens across the borough, benefiting all our residents and businesses.

Reviving historic Allders building

As part of the regeneration of our town centre, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) has launched Allders Parade – a new selection of shops and places to eat, located in Croydon’s landmark Allders building. It’s a big step forward for The Croydon Project – URW’s wider plans for the revitalisation of the North End area of the town.

The first to open was Miniso, a lifestyle and cosmetics store, and Sky. I was delighted to see long queues of shoppers through the town on opening day, and to experience the buzz that the project has returned to the town centre. Further new shops will be opening in October including, Abaci, a women’s fashion brand, Isle of Flowers, Coco & Nut café, and Meltin’ Moments, an ice cream shop that was once part of the original Allders store.

Take off for London Gatwick project

The Government has given the go-ahead for the Northern Runway Project at London Gatwick –a big win for jobs and growth in South London. We’ve built a strong relationship with the airport, officially signing an economic growth charter in 2024. Since then, we’ve been working together to open up opportunities for Croydon – from jobs and apprenticeships to investment and support for local businesses.

In 2024–25 alone, 131 young people from Croydon had the chance to apply for apprenticeships, graduate schemes, and internships. Croydon-based businesses also benefited from retail supply chain opportunities, bringing in £265 million to our local economy and supporting 3,680 jobs for residents.

With the runway expansion now moving forward, we’re excited about what’s next – more jobs, more investment, and even more opportunities for Croydon and South London.

Croydon: Game On!

The Develop Croydon Conference returns to Fairfield Halls on Thursday 6 November 2025, and this year’s theme is all about momentum. Now in its 16th year, it’s time to hit play on Croydon’s next chapter - driven by fresh investment, bold ideas, and major infrastructure plans.

At the heart of it is my Town Centre Vision and Growth Plan, which tie in closely with the London Growth Plan’s aspirations to deliver new homes, boost inclusive growth, and create thriving, well-connected communities. I am really looking forward to joining local businesses, partners, and guest speakers to celebrate what Croydon’s achieved and to help shape what comes next.

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