£30 million funding will transform Croydon’s town centre with five defined zones, new public spaces, accessibility, and development.

Over 140,000 people travel to the borough every day and the authority wants to build on that for regeneration over the next 5 years.

The borough is working closely with Gatwick Airport to improve connectivity.

Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry tells Jackie News why Croydon is the perfect place for business start-ups:

The ambition of the plan has already attracted strong backing, with Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Growth, saying:

“With strong existing infrastructure and major investment planned in its town centre, Croydon has a major role to play in driving the inclusive and sustainable growth we need to see across London over the next decade. The Mayor and I are committed to working with boroughs across the capital through the London Growth Plan to build a fairer and more prosperous city for all.”

Ben Mclaughlin, Chief Operations Officer at BOXPARK, where the launch took place, reflects the confidence that new and entrepreneurial businesses have in the destination:

“BOXPARK chose Croydon to be its second site in 2016 knowing the underlying opportunity that East Croydon’s urban district has to offer and the amazing potential that the community and businesses hold. We continue to see Croydon as a great place to invest and have recently opened a new competitive socialising space, Playbox, to enhance Croydon’s leisure offering and ensure that the growth of Croydon’s retail sector continues.”

Since 2022, every major planning application has been approved at committee. Croydon is one of London’s largest and most affordable boroughs according to the authority, delivering more than 10,000 homes in the next five years and contributing to the 34,000 target to be delivered by 2039.

The town centre is just 14 minutes from London Bridge, 16 minutes from Victoria, and 15 minutes from Gatwick Airport. Croydon boasts the capital’s only Tramlink system and direct rail links spanning London and the South East, extensive bus services, and road access via the M25 and A232.

As one of the capital’s youngest boroughs, Croydon is also investing in training to nurture future talent and has the backing of 65 investors, developers and landowners through Develop Croydon.