OPPORTUNITY SUTTON Unlocking Economic Growth

“Our vision is for Sutton to be an enterprising, enabling borough that is a magnet for business investment; that welcomes new entrepreneurs and social enterprises; nurtures its business base and removes barriers to enterprise. We want Sutton to have a competitive edge over our neighbours.”

London Borough of SuttonWhy choose Sutton?Priorities for growthProsperityPeoplePlaceDelivering the vision

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 McCoyChair, Housing, Economy and Business Committee

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Well-connectedSutton centre is Zone 5, less than 30 minutes by train from central London and easily accessible by public transport to the south and west of London, including Victoria, Clapham Junction, London Bridge, Croydon, Wimbledon, and Kingston-upon-Thames. Sutton also has easy access to Europe via St Pancras International, Gatwick which is less than 15 miles away and the X26 travelling towards Heathrow. An extensive bus and tramline network serves the Borough. There is excellent parking in three safe multi-story car parks in Sutton town centre.

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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.

Why choose Sutton?

Designated development sitesSutton has a significant number of designated development sites, providing opportunities that are not present in surrounding boroughs.

High quality housingSutton has plenty of high-quality housing, relatively affordable by London standards (average price £244,620 in Feb 2012). Over 84% of Sutton housing is owner-occupied or private rented, higher than the rest of South London and London as a whole.

A safe boroughSutton is the third safest borough in London and crime is lower than it has been for a decade.

Outstanding green spacesThe 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 leader in environmental performance. A recent MORI survey revealed that 75% of our residents regularly use Sutton’s parks, with 89% expressing satisfaction with them.

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

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Carshalton Park

Taylor Wimpey’s Centrale development, Hackbridge

View from Trinity Square

High Street Spring Clean

Multiple district centresAs well as Sutton Town Centre, the Borough has seven district centres which contribute to the vitality and prosperity of the Borough.

Good transport linksSutton’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.

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

Vibrant business sectorThe Borough is enterprising and commercially active with more than 6,600 businesses. In 2011, 13.2% new businesses started up in Sutton compared to the previous year.

High achieving schoolsThe Borough is renowned for its high-achieving schools with the latest league tables showing our pupils’ achievements at GCSE as one of the best in the country.

Tech-readyMuch of Sutton is already equipped to connect with national and international markets with super-fast broadband capacity.

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Worcester Park Brandon Conrad, Sheesh Mangal, Worcester Park

Sutton Rail Station

Sutton Grammar School at Manor Park

Hackbridge Station

Chancery House, Sutton Town Centre

Manor Park

1 Throwley Way

Sutton’s Priorities for Growth

Sutton has avoided many of the worst effects of the recession and is well positioned for growth.

EmploymentSutton has 78% of its residents in work – the highest in London. Unemployment is 2% points lower than the London average. Sutton residents work in a wide range of occupations – most people work in administration, health, education and financial services with construction, manufacturing and transport all well represented. The GLA predict that Sutton will create an additional 15% of jobs by 2026.

RetailHigh-quality businesses like Patisserie Valerie have chosen to locate in Sutton – and some big national multiples have renewed their commitment. Footfall in Sutton town centre has fallen slightly but big events in the high street can attract 25,000 people in a single day.

Business and IndustryNew business start-ups have grown rapidly compared with the previous year. Strong demand continues for industrial land with good access to the A217.

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.

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We are writing at a time when the UK economy has shrunk and growth is stalled for the foreseeable future. Businesses of all types have suffered across the UK – empty shop units; struggling restaurants and other service businesses; and rising unemployment, particularly in the vulnerable 16-24 age group. It is a tough time to start a business – and an equally tough time to keep one going.

Since the 2010 general election, the Government has sought to create the conditions for the private sector to lead national economic recovery, while at the same time incentivising local government to promote growth through physical expansion and encouraging communities and social enterprises to take responsibility for delivering services. Initiatives include:

Localism, decentralisation and the Big Society – empowering local authorities and communities to shape their local area and services.

Open government services, commissioning and procurement – promoting opportunities for local SMEs, social enterprises and communities to bid for public service delivery.

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.

The national context - harnessing national policy changes

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Sutton and the recession: bucking the trend!

Themes for GrowthThe three themes are firmly interlinked and mutually create the whole Sutton Offer. Together they will help achieve our vision.

ProsperityNew ways to develop business, encourage investment and create opportunities for enterprising local people.

PeopleEnabling all our residents to share in the growth by aligning training, skills and apprenticeships to employment and business opportunities.

PlaceMarketing our development opportunities and innovative use of neighbourhood planning to unlock the potential of each area of the borough.

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4 Market stall5 Beddington Pond6 Sutton Town Centre7 Sutton Town Centre8 Sutton Town Centre9 Trinity Square

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Prosperity – helping businesses 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 abusiness 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.

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

Paul Curtis, Sutton SuperBowl

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We will hold an Opportunity Sutton Inward Investment Event in June 2012 to promote commercial development sites across the borough for investors, businesses and agents to see firsthand why Sutton is the place for business.

We will maintain a Business Property Database for inward investors and a property service for existing local firms looking to expand.

We will establish a new Economic Renewal Unit to attract inward investment and promote business investment through sound planning and support services.

We will create our first Business Start-up and Incubation Centre in North Cheam in partnership with SCOLA – providing advice, support, networking and guidance.

We will facilitate a Smarter Business Development Event jointly with Sutton Chamber of Commerce in September 2012, to help enterprising people about to start a business.

We will develop a Business Start-Up Pack for all new businesses, updating them on the support available from the council and partners.

We will consider Reduced Business Rates for start-ups, using new council powers to make sure Sutton remains an attractive place for new businesses.

We will promote a new Business Mentoring Scheme to nurture small businesses.

We will support the Successful Sutton campaign for a Business Improvement District (BID) for the town centre, to improve its look, feel and safety and to improve business performance.

We will develop a Green Enterprise Partnership to boost the green economy in Sutton – promoting energy efficient buildings; attracting businesses working in sustainability and green technologies; and creating green jobs and apprenticeships.

We will use the Green Deal framework to generate business opportunities in energy assessment and installation.

We will form a Business Board to provide a ‘voice of business’ in the borough, as a forum for the private and third sectors to discuss enterprise, innovation, growth, skills and jobs.

We will promote National Market Day by cutting the red tape and encouraging Sutton’s entrepreneurs to pitch up and sell their wares unhindered by unnecessary bureaucracy.

Attracting inward investment

Helping new businesses start and grow

Making businesses more competitive

We will set up Town Teams for our key district centres to provide a strong, visionary and operational approach to our high streets in line with Mary Portas’ recommendations.

We will exploit the Government’s new policies for economic growth by considering new funding mechanisms – including business rate retention, Tax Increment Financing, New Homes Bonus and other infrastructure pots.

We will draw on experiences from shaping the local social care market, to adopt a commissioning approach to support and stimulate a mixed economy of local entrepreneurial and good value providers.

We will also assist local small businesses and social enterprises to tender for council services through a new 2012 Corporate Procurement Strategy.

Council innovations supporting prosperity

OUR AGENDA FOR ACTION

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

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People – helping residents get the jobs they want

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

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.

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We will build on the success of the Sutton Housing Partnership which has created a number of effective employment schemes such as “Apprenticeship Scheme”, “Building Lives Academy” and “Women in Construction”.

We will work more closely with our prime contractors in the government’s Work Programme to ensure our employment opportunities target the long-term unemployed.

We will draw up a Youth Employment Plan, to be led and delivered by a Sutton Employment Network drawn widely from all sectors and advised by 16-24 year olds themselves.

We will ensure that all 16-24 year olds have a Personal Learning and Development Plan.

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

We will work with local employers to increase effective apprenticeships and work place initiatives such as work trials.

We will create more job placements for young people by building better links between education providers and business leaders.

We will build on the Council’s own Apprenticeship Scheme which has already provided 80 job opportunities for young people.

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.

We will use the newly commissioned employment land study to match new commercial developments to local employment needs.

New approaches to employment support

Getting young people into quality jobs

Council innovations to get people into jobs

OUR AGENDA FOR ACTION

Left: Bob Law and staff, TaZza CoffeeRight: Student at SCOLA

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Place – unlocking development potential

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

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

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We will make use of the resources set to become available under the reform of the Housing Review Account and the governments new Rights to Buy policy to deliver a significant programme of new local authority homes for rent.

We will actively promote the ‘Sutton Offer’ sites to potential developers through the Opportunity Sutton Inward Investment Event and the “Sitematch” website.

We will use new funding to carry out major public realm and shop front improvements in North

Cheam and Worcester Park, alongside a new local business network and the creation of new vibrant areas for the community.

We will draw up plans to regenerate the Wandle Valley Regional Park which is identified in the Mayor’s London Plan. This network of green infrastructure will reach out from the river corridor to adjacent areas of open space, residential and business areas.

We will seek London-wide funding for the Regional Park.

We will lobby TfL for the extension of the Croydon Tramlink Network to Sutton Town Centre, building on the very strong business case with funding targeted for 2018.

We will work with BT to roll out superfast broadband across all our district centres to

ensure that firms are connected to markets and supply chains – wherever these may be.

We will review the Sutton parking offer to explore inventive ways of encouraging more shoppers into our town and district centres.

We will continue to adhere to the ten principles of One Planet Living framework to help us live and work within our fair share of the earth’s resources. OPL is a simple way to plan, deliver and mainstream sustainable development and the green economy.

We will build on Sutton’s “jewel in the crown” – the unique Hackbridge Sustainable Suburb.

We will secure 1,500 new homes of the highest environmental standards; the first wave of green economy business support and public realm investment; and a Decentralised Energy & Heat Network.

Development of opportunity sites and local regeneration

Transport and infrastructure

Sustainability and One Planet Living

OUR AGENDA FOR ACTION

We will produce a community-endorsed Neighbourhood Plan for Hackbridge by the end of 2012 – and we will roll out a programme of support for Neighbourhood Plans across the borough to empower communities to shape the growth and development of their areas.

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.

We will provide leadership by using our new powers and existing economic assets in innovative ways to help bring about improvements in place across the borough.

We will promote Sutton as a visitor destination through our heritage sites and historic attractions.

Council Innovations for improving place

1 Zero carbon

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

Left: Ten principles of One Planet Living framework Right: BedZED, Hackbridge

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.

Delivering the Vision

Ruth Dombey, Leader of the Council “Sutton is an excellent place to live. Now we are promoting Sutton as an excellent place to do business, and we are actively seeking new investment. Opportunity Sutton is our agenda for action, driving a programme of activities with our partners in each of our key areas of Prosperity, People and Places.”

This Statement, a powerful mix of policy and ambition, is the first bold step to demonstrate our commitment and intentions for growth. We are aware growth will not happen spontaneously and that we need to work hard to ensure it happens. This Statement is a strong, deliverable plan to create real growth within the Borough.

The measures outlined form a new approach to ensure the successful Sutton of the future. They exploit new powers given to the Council, residents and businesses to create fresh opportunities and shape their own neighbourhoods.

We are evolving our approach to commissioning and procurement to make it within reach of small businesses and social enterprises that can also provide effective and valuable services.We will provide leadership across all sectors in delivering our aspirations for One Planet Living, Opportunity Sutton Inward

Investment, the Sutton Youth Employment Plan and the growth of social enterprises throughout the Borough.

We will restructure our staff resources to ensure our teams are aligned fully with the aims and aspirations of the vision – the Economic Development Unit delivering inward investment and the Town Teams providing a strategic and management structure for local delivery. To make sure that we deliver our aspirations we have a detailed action plan with targets and time scales.

Why this Statement?Sutton recognises that despite our intrinsic strengths, the global recession and poor national economic growth have impacted locally on the borough, creating new social and economic challenges. Sutton wants to confront these challenges and this Statement’s objective is to achieve strong, sustainable, shared solutions at a local level.

Sutton is a good place to do business. Building on our rich heritage as an innovative borough, we have the right environment to help entrepreneurs make a healthy return on their investment. Already one of the best places in London to live, work and do business, Sutton is culturally and economically vibrant. It has an impressive business base, a skilled workforce, thriving

town and district centres, land fit for development and an economic renewal team committed to ensuring the borough exploits its many opportunities. These are the levers for growth.

Sutton is one of only four Metropolitan Centres in south London and the eighth largest centre in the capital. However, we need to step up a gear and become more dynamic to compete with our neighbouring centres. Sutton needs a strong, ambitious plan to actively release its opportunities for growth.

This Statement is a manifesto and our commitment to economic growth in the borough with a vision for sustainable growth from which everyone can benefit.

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6 SCOLA – Sutton College of Learning for Adults7 Felnex Trading Estate, Hackbridge

8 Sutton Rail Station9 Worcester Park

3 Phoenix Centre, Wallington

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

Amanda Cherrington

Head of Economic Renewal and Business

Environment

Amanda.Cherrington@sutton.gov.uk

0208 770 5530

Sally Blomfield

Principal Planner

Sally.Blomfield@sutton.gov.uk

0208 770 6253

Kirsty Allen

Business Enterprise Manager

Kirsty.Allen@sutton.gov.uk

0208 770 5987

Sutton Borough Council

Civic Offices

St Nicholas Way

Sutton SM1 1EA

PhotographySutton Film Office

Mickey Lee / The Means

Front cover images (left to right) Quadrant House, Sutton Town Centre

Beddington Zero Energy Development, Hackbridge Sustainabe SuburbCheam Park

Printed on 100% Recycled Paperwww.sutton.gov.uk