Place
To realise our ambitions, we’ve organised our work under 4 specific areas. ‘Place’ is about our work focused on improving the physical assets across our 8 boroughs.
Infrastructure
London will agree its Local Industrial Strategy in 2020. This work is being led by the Greater London Authority (GLA) with strong input from the 4 sub-regions of London (including Local London).
This is our opportunity to establish the way we expect the sub-region to develop. We need a plan that recognises our unique role and how we can be enabled to achieve it.
The London Plan and our own ambitions need to be met. This means:
- more affordable housing
- excellent health, education and care provision
Transport
Accessibility is key to the future of Local London. Transport links are good but they need further investment.
The Thames Estuary Commission and the Innovation Corridor project have both identified transport as a major priority.
Crossrail
There are 18 new/upgraded stations planned as part of Crossrail. We must ensure the best possible benefit for local residents.
Extending Crossrail to allow real access across Bexley and into Kent, and to join with HS2, will open up the sub-region to a wider market and connections.
Cycling
Local London has benefited from GLA investment to create two ‘mini-Holland’ schemes in Enfield and Waltham Forest, and three cycle superhighways.
Our transport ambitions
Our ambitions for transport include:
- 4-track train access to Cambridge and Stansted
- extra river crossings
- orbital connections across Havering to strengthen local economies
- an environmentally friendly bus network system to improve air quality
- securing investment to solve congestion hot-spots, such as the A12 and A13
Housing
Current borough estimates show we need 250,000 new homes across the Local London sub-region in the next 20 to 30 years.
In the next 5 years, there are plans to build approximately 45,000 new affordable homes.
The need for a mixed, affordable housing sector in London is important for our sub-region. It’s partly about provision, but it’s also about control.
We want to:
- be able to invest in our land effectively
- have controls over permitted development
- have stronger oversight over the private rental sector
We know the population will grow. Local London should provide coordination and clarity across the boroughs about how that future demand for housing will be shaped.
Digital
Local London is well positioned to lead on connecting our emerging businesses and communities into high-quality digital infrastructure.
For example:
- by leveraging our collective power we can work with major providers to grow our 5G provision
- we currently have 8 projects implementing cabling to improve access at public buildings and industrial estates (business rates retention can be used to expand this in the future)
Meanwhile, our boroughs are making huge strides to embrace new and emerging technologies:
- Bexley aspires to be a Gigabit borough
- Enfield is investing in digital fibre connectivity for Meridian Water
- Havering is providing broadband/wi-fi connectivity in Romford, Hornchurch and Upminster Town Centres
- Barking & Dagenham is witnessing major growth in the tech sector
- Greenwich has grown a specialist team, Digital Greenwich, as part of its hugely
ambitious digital programme
Smart cities
Our boroughs are making progress to become smart cities:
- Greenwich has an objective to be a recognised leader in smart-city innovation
- Barking and Dagenham has developed an innovative platform that collates multiple data sources to present social progress information and inform decision-making
- Bexley has recognised the need to implement smart systems/technologies to improve the environment
London Councils and the GLA are exploring the case for a new digital collaboration function provisionally called the London Office for Technology and Innovation (LOTI).
Local London should seek to be a major influencer in this area and be London’s leader’s in smart-city initiatives.
Investment
The Local London sub-region includes the Olympic boroughs, the Innovation Corridor and the Thames Estuary.
By using the collective capacity of the boroughs we will:
- set out our ambitions
- produce a shared inward investment strategy
We have an offer that other parts of London cannot make. Our growth is built on having:
- affordable assets
- a commitment to major investment in skills for a future workforce
- a growing population to service industries
We also have the benefit of being part of the capital but with links to ports and mainland Europe.
Current investment highlights
- Waltham Forest is the Borough of Culture and is seeing the fastest growth of SME businesses in London
- Enfield is progressing a huge development at Meridian Water
- Havering is forming a range of partnerships to deliver its housing schemes
- Bexley is working towards a major construction academy
- Newham, Barking & Dagenham and Greenwich are redefining their areas through major development schemes along the Thames – the Dagenham Film Studios is a great example of the potential we are starting to realise
The role of economic corridors will be increasingly significant for future investment and growth with opportunities into Kent, Essex and Hertfordshire.
Securing funding
Local London is accessing skills funding, coordinating providers, and building partnerships.
Our role is to shape the provision and consequently the future workforce to meet demand.
Examples of Local London leading the way for local people include:
- the Department of Work and Penion’s Work and Health Programme
- the Business Enterprise Adviser Network
- the commissions around the Adult Education Budget
We can do more to access funds and commissions and will proactively approach the GLA and central government for support.