- 18th November 2025
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Local London calls on partners to accelerate investment and create good growth
Local London, the capital’s biggest sub-regional partnership, launched its new Vision for Growth today at its inaugural Investment and Development Forum.
The event, held at The Good Hotel on Royal Victoria Dock, brought together public and private sector investors with delegates from nine boroughs to unveil the new Vision and initiate discussions to unlock investment opportunities.
Researched and authored by Centre for London, the capital’s independent think tank, the Vision sets out how partners across Local London will accelerate growth and tackle inequality in its member boroughs: Barking & Dagenham, Bexley, Bromley, Enfield, Greenwich, Havering, Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest.
This research reveals that the Local London sub-region has the key ingredients for growth:
- Local London is home to around 2.7 million people and is set to reach 3 million by 2050, the sub-region’s population is larger than Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool combined.
- The sub-region contributes over £60 billion to the economy annually and has grown faster than any other part of Outer London since 2010.
- Employment has risen at twice the UK rate, rising by 9.1% since 2010.
These act as natural advantages for the sub-region. Growth could both benefit the local population as well as stimulate wider economic benefits for London and the rest of the UK.
A sub-region with a fast growing and skilled population
With the fastest growing population in the capital, Local London is home to a third of the capital’s families and the highest proportion of under 18's. Nearly half (46%) of Local London’s places are characterised by vibrant migrant and student neighbourhoods.
These diverse communities are united by a common thread – the overwhelming majority of the sub-region’s residents are proud to live there. In Centre for London’s polling with Savanta, three-quarters stated they felt ‘proud’ or ‘very proud’ of their area.
This population already boasts impressive skills achievements. In 2023-24, 136,000 residents achieved Level 2-3 qualifications (equivalent to GCSE’s and A-Levels) – the highest across the capital. At university level, the sub-region has the largest cohort of London’s higher education achievements at undergraduate level, holding that position since 2018. With a highly dynamic and skilled population, the residents of Local London could be the key to investment and innovation in the area.
The sub-region's strong economic base
Additionally, the sub-region has a strong economic base. The number of businesses has grown by 44% in the sub-region in the last decade, 10% higher than the London average. This has seen more residents reap the benefits of economic growth. There has been a rapid increase in employment since 2010, averaging 9.1% across the sub-region which is twice the national rate. Meanwhile economic inactivity has dropped by 3% among working-age men and 10% among working-age women.
However, there is still work to do to maximise the potential of the sub-region and ensure economic growth benefits everyone. The sub-region has the lowest gross weekly pay in capital and some communities remain the most deprived in the country. In one statistic from Centre for London and Savanta’s polling – 1 in 5 Local London residents rated the availability of quality, well-paid jobs in the area as ‘poor’.
Meanwhile, the sub-region’s productivity growth has fallen below both the London and national average – this means Local London’s workers produce less per hour worked than their peers nationally and regionally, holding back local prosperity and the wider economy.
Decisive action to close prosperity gap
Decisive action is required to prevent this prosperity gap widening, and the building blocks for this are in place. Local London has the people – a dynamic and diverse population; the skills – a community ready and willing to learn; and the business – a strong foundational economy, growing faster than all other Outer London areas. Despite these positives, the potential of North East and South East London remains unrealised.
As a sub-region, it’s time to match the opportunities to the potential of the residents and business. Local London’s vision includes steps to:
- Attract investment through a regular investment summit alongside an investment portfolio to provide a healthy pipeline of opportunities.
- Unlock infrastructure by advocating for critical major projects with clear economic benefits for residents and businesses.
- Support businesses with access to talent and quality workspaces.
- Create a joined-up skills and employment offer with employers, education providers, community organisers and health partners to support residents to get the help to succeed and thrive.
Cllr Anthony Okereke, Chair of Local London and Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said “Across our boroughs, we are united in our commitment to driving sustainable and inclusive growth that benefits both our communities and the wider economy. Recent research by Centre for London highlights the scale of opportunity in our sub-region, and the damaging impact of delaying vital investment.
Our Vision builds on a strong track record and a deep understanding of our unique strengths. It sets out a bold, actionable plan to unlock the sub-region’s unmissable potential. Through four strategic missions, we will attract investment, unlock infrastructure, support enterprise, and boost skills and employment.
We are calling on government, businesses, and education partners to work with us to accelerate investment and create thriving communities with quality homes, vibrant commercial spaces, good jobs, and seamless connectivity. It is vital we act now.”
Rob Anderson, Research Director at Centre for London, said: “One of the government’s key pledges was to make work pay. To do so, we need to enable our sub-regional and local governments to work directly with local residents – matching their interests, skills and circumstances to local jobs, businesses and new opportunities.
Local London have set out an ambitious plan, building on historical success in regeneration, covering all corners of the sub-region. The foundations for inclusive and equitable growth are there. Now, it’s time to take actions to make sure residents, businesses and investors benefit as we realise the potential of London’s biggest sub-region.”
Discover our exciting Vision for the sub-region in our video
Explore the Local London Vision local.london/vision
If you would like to be part of delivering our Vision, get in touch: hello.localLondon@redbridge.gov.uk
- 23rd September 2025
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First view of new Vision at London Real Estate Forum
Local London trailed its new Vision for the sub-region at the London Real Estate Forum event on 17 September to key investors and developers.
In partnership with Centre for London, Local London is developing a Vision highlighting opportunities in the nine boroughs to the east of the capital as a great place to live, work, learn, invest and set up a business.
The Vision will reflect wider policy strategies for London and the UK, and complement the recently launched Opportunity London Prospectus which includes a large share of real estate and infrastructure opportunities on or coming to market in our boroughs.
Built around four key missions, the Vision will set the direction for an ambitious programme that boosts productivity and skills, unlocks our infrastructure potential and drives investment into our diverse and dynamic economy.
Discover why our sub-region is an exciting place to live, work and do business in our video
Mayor Fiaz OBE, Chair of London London’s Growth Board and Mayor of Newham, said:
“I have always said, London is East. With unmatched land for development, a young and diverse workforce, Local London can become the engine for inclusive growth for the capital and country.
This autumn we will publish our refreshed Vision, reflecting our sub-region’s shared aspirations for unlocking our potential. Working together and with our public and private sector partners, we will transform Local London into a place that is ready to grow responsibly, celebrates its diversity, rich heritage and vast green spaces, where everyone can live well, succeed, and thrive.”
Cllr Morgon, Chair of Local London’s Skills and Employment Board and Leader of LB Havering, commented:
“At the heart of our Vision and all this opportunity, are our people. They shape our sub-region’s character. This is a place where everyone can flourish.
Over the next five years, Local London will have an inclusive and joined up skills and employment offer for residents and businesses that is future-facing, driving productivity and prosperity, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to succeed into good work and raise their living standards, in a changing economy.”
Antonia Jennings, Chief Executive Officer, Centre for London, said:
“We are delighted to have been involved in developing a Vision for this exciting sub-region. Local London is an unbeatable area of opportunity across the northeast and southeast of the capital, offering significant growth potential for businesses, developers and investors.”
Explore the Local London Vision (publication planned for autumn 2025) local.london/vision
If you would like to be part of delivering our Vision, get in touch: hello.localLondon@redbridge.gov.uk
- 19th September 2025
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Major opportunity is east in London’s new prospectus
Opportunity London launched their new prospectus at the London Real Estate Forum on 17 September.
Backed by the Mayor of London, London Councils, HM Government and 70 industry partners, the prospectus is the front door into London for investors, comprising a portfolio of investor-ready projects with expert guidance to navigate planning and delivery.
The prospectus features an infrastructure development pipeline with four of London’s major transport hubs, along with energy, residential across all tenures including student accommodation, logistics, life sciences and leisure schemes across the city.
Ten of the 25 live opportunities that are seeking over £22bn of investment are in our boroughs, including:
- Barking and Dagenham: Barking Town Centre, Thames Road, Barking Riverside, and Beckton Riverside Phase 2.
- Enfield: Meridian Waters.
- Newham: Royal Albert Docks - Education Campus, Royal Albert Dock and Silvertown – Royal Docks. As well as Silvertown Partnership which has secured investment.
- Waltham Forest: Walthamstow Central Interchange Regeneration.
In addition, the prospectus identifies 15 flagship investment opportunities coming to market across London, offering estimated returns between 6 to 20+%, including four stand-out places in our sub-region to the east of the capital, located in:
- Queen Elizabeth Park.
- Barking.
- Royal Docks.
- Thamesmead.
Complementing the launch of the Opportunity London Prospectus, Local London trailed their new Vision for Growth at the London Real Estate Forum. The Vision is set to highlight opportunities in the nine boroughs to the east of the capital as a great place to live, work, learn, invest and set up a business.
With an annual GVA of around £68bn, land available for development and a population of 2.7million, this is the fastest growing part of London and a prime location for investors, developers and businesses.
Mayor Fiaz, Chair of Local London’s Growth Board and Mayor of Newham described the opportunity in Local London at LREF “We have got the ideas, and the drive and the ambition for our people and place. We are home to 2.7 million people and growing, this is the fastest growing part of London. We have thousands of homes to build on land that has to be unlocked.
The size of the opportunity here along with our strategic location and strong national and international links, make this part of London an unmatched prospect for investment, quality development and inclusive growth.”
The Prospectus is available as a live digital edition that will be continuously updated as new opportunities emerge across the capital.
Explore the full London Investment Prospectus: https://opportunity.london
⇒ Discover the Local London Vision (publication planned for autumn 2025) local.london/vision