Economy of the London Borough of Croydon

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Croydon Boxpark Boxpark Croydon.jpg
Croydon Boxpark

Croydon , located in Greater London, England, has a diverse economy with the service and retail sectors now dominating over the town's historical market status. [1] It is today served well by its extensive rail network centering on East and West Croydon stations, from where London Overground, First Capital Connect and Southern operate to most parts of Central and Greater London, as well as Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire and the East of England. With the A23, M23 and M25 orbital motorway intersecting Croydon to the South East, it is the principal gateway of the motorway network from the East Sussex area of the South Coast. London Gatwick Airport is located to the direct south of the town and has scheduled flights to destinations within Europe, North America and Asia, although has tough competition from the even bigger London Heathrow Airport to the west but has managed to stay the UK's second busiest airport. [2] The town has since 2000 had a tram network which has been highly successful, carrying more than 24 million passengers a year. [3] The network has three lines, the routes being; New Addington to West Croydon (returning to New Addington), Wimbledon to Beckenham and Wimbledon to Elmers End, with some off-peak variations. [4] Croydon is one of only five London boroughs not to have any form of London Underground services.

These good transport links have been a major factor contributing to the growth of Croydon, and have led to the town becoming a major centre for distribution. Retail is another major service and employer in the town centre, with a retail economy which has experienced a boom resulting in several new shops. North End is Croydon's main shopping street, with the Whitgift and Allders situated on it. The town centre also includes the famous Surrey Street market, one of the only lasting town centre markets in the Croydon and South London areas, and over 3 indoor shopping centres. The Whitgift Centre and the newest Centrale centre. Park Place will re-establish Croydon as one of the UK's top shopping areas. Plans include the construction of a new shopping centre to replace St George's Walk and older properties on George Street. [5] The proposed redevelopment of Park Place by Minerva and Lend Lease will create a one million square foot destination with over 130 shops, cafes and restaurants, anchored by a new department store which the council hopes will be John Lewis. [6] Other tenants interested have included Habitat, Borders and Gap. [7] Improvements will see Queen's Gardens completely remodelled, together with the construction of a fully integrated public transport hub to include a new bus interchange and tram stop. The building of Park Place will create Europe's largest covered retail area. [8]

HMRC regional centre, Ruskin Square HMRC regional centre, Croydon (36351870234).jpg
HMRC regional centre, Ruskin Square

Croydon is one of the largest financial centres in the south east outside London and is also home to many legal and insurance firms. Croydon is a major office area in the south east of England, being the largest outside of Central London. In 2007, Croydon leapt up the annual business growth league table, with a 14% rise in new firms trading in the borough after 125 new companies started up, increasing the number from 900 to 1,025, enabling the town, which has also won the Enterprising Britain Award and "the most enterprising borough in London" award, [9] to jump from 31 to 14 in the table. [10] Malcolm Brabon has stated that "Croydon is home to a variety of international business communities, each with dynamic business networks, so businesses located in Croydon are in a good position to make the most of international trade and recruit from a labour force fluent in 130 languages". [11]

In 2007, Croydon's unemployment rate was 6.3%, compared to 6.9% for the London area and 5.3% for the rest of the United Kingdom. A higher volume of men are unemployed in Croydon than females, with 9.3% out of work compared to 6.1% of females. [12]

The Croydon Community Against Trafficking campaigns against prostitution in Croydon. [13]

The former Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said he would support Croydon becoming an official city and announced £23m of additional funding to help redevelop the town at the Develop Croydon Conference on 22 November 2011. Several luxury Docklands-style apartment developments have been built in recent years, and several more are being built or planned. Saffron Square, which will include a 45-storey tower, is already under construction, and other developments with towers over 50 floors high have been given planning approval. These include a 54-storey "Menta Tower" in Cherry Orchard Road near East Croydon station, and a 55-storey tower at One Landsdowne Road; the latter, on which construction was set to begin in early 2013, is set to be Britain's tallest block of flats, as well as including office space, a 4 star hotel and a health club. [14]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tramlink</span> Light rail tram system in South London

London Trams, previously Tramlink and Croydon Tramlink, is a light rail tram system serving Croydon and surrounding areas in South London, England. It began operation in 2000, the first tram system in the London region since 1952. It is managed by London Trams, a public body part of Transport for London (TfL), and has been operated by FirstGroup since 2017. Tramlink is one of two light rail networks in Greater London, the other being the Docklands Light Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Borough of Croydon</span> London borough in United Kingdom

The London Borough of Croydon is a London borough in south London, part of Outer London. It covers an area of 87 km2 (33.6 sq mi). It is the southernmost borough of London. At its centre is the historic town of Croydon from which the borough takes its name; while other urban centres include Coulsdon, Purley, South Norwood, Norbury, New Addington, Selsdon and Thornton Heath. Croydon is mentioned in Domesday Book, and from a small market town has expanded into one of the most populous areas on the fringe of London. The borough is now one of London's leading business, financial and cultural centres, and its influence in entertainment and the arts contribute to its status as a major metropolitan centre. Its population is 390,719, making it the largest London borough and sixteenth largest English district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waddon</span> Human settlement in England

Waddon is a neighbourhood in the London Borough of Croydon, at the western end of the town of Croydon. The area borders the London Borough of Sutton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croydon</span> Town in South London, England

Croydon is a large town in South London, England, 9.3 miles (15.0 km) south of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Croydon, a local government district of Greater London, it is one of the largest commercial districts in Greater London, with an extensive shopping district and night-time economy. The entire town had a population of 192,064 as of 2011, whilst the wider borough had a population of 384,837.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Croydon station</span> National rail station and Tramlink tram stop in London

East Croydon is a railway station and tram stop in Croydon, Greater London, England, and is located in Travelcard Zone 5. At 10 miles 28 chains from London Bridge, it is the 17th busiest station in Britain, was the 10th busiest in 2020–21, and is one of the busiest non-terminal stations in the country. It is one of three railway stations in the London Borough of Croydon with Croydon in their name, the others being West Croydon and South Croydon. A Tramlink tram stop is located immediately outside the main station entrance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitgift Centre</span> Shopping centre/Offices and Car park in Croydon, England

The Whitgift Centre is a large shopping centre in the town centre of Croydon, opening in stages between 1968 and 1970. The centre comprises 1,302,444 sq ft (121,001 m2) of retail space, and was the largest covered shopping development in Greater London until the opening of Westfield London at White City in 2008. The Whitgift Centre has a monthly footfall of 2.08 million. The complex includes an office development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Addington</span> Human settlement in England

New Addington is a modern town in South London, England, within the London Borough of Croydon. It is located 5 miles south east of Croydon, south of Addington Village and north of Biggin Hill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Croydon</span> Area of London

South Croydon in south London is the area surrounding the valley south of central Croydon and running as far south as the former Red Deer public house on the Brighton Road. It is bounded by Waddon to the West and Selsdon and Sanderstead to the East. It is part of the South Croydon (CR2) post town and in the London Borough of Croydon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">County Borough of Croydon</span>

The County Borough of Croydon was a local government district in and around the town of Croydon in north east Surrey, England from 1889 to 1965. Since 1965 the district has been part of the London Borough of Croydon within Greater London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Centrale (Croydon)</span> Shopping centre in Greater London, England

Centrale is a shopping centre in Croydon, South London, one of the largest covered retail developments in London. It is owned and managed by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and was opened in 2004. Plans were announced in January 2013 to redevelop Centrale and combine it with the Whitgift Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodside tram stop</span> Tramlink tram stop in London, England

Woodside tram stop is a light rail stop situated between Woodside Green and Ashburton Park in the London Borough of Croydon in the southern suburbs of London. The stop is located on the site of the former Woodside railway station of the Woodside and South Croydon Railway; the old station buildings survive, though not used by Tramlink.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Addington Village Interchange</span> Tramlink tram stop in London, England

Addington Village Interchange is a light rail stop and associated bus station serving Addington in the London Borough of Croydon in the southern suburbs of London. It opened on 10 May 2000 along with the line to New Addington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Addington tram stop</span> Tramlink tram stop in London, England

New Addington is a terminal tram stop serving the centre of New Addington, in the London Borough of Croydon, in the southern suburbs of London. The tram stop is served by London Trams, which connects New Addington with central Croydon. The next stop on the line towards central Croydon is King Henry's Drive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coombe Lane tram stop</span> Tramlink tram stop in London, England

Coombe Lane tram stop is a light rail stop in the London Borough of Croydon in the southern suburbs of London. It is located south of Addington Hills and serves Royal Russell School and the Ballards residential estate.

The Croydon Exp07 was a series of events held from 2007, aimed at business and residents in the London Borough of Croydon, UK to demonstrate the £2bn of development projects planned for Croydon in the next 10 years. It is part of the Croydon Vision 2020 regeneration programme. The council-backed scheme hoped to interest investors to fund part of the regeneration projects around Croydon, and help to establish Croydon as "London's Third City" Croydon has applied for city status twice but failed. If it had succeeded, the borough would have become the City of Croydon, like the City of Westminster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Henry's Drive tram stop</span> Tramlink tram stop in London, England

King Henry's Drive tram stop is a light rail stop serving the Betchworth Way residential area of New Addington, in the London Borough of Croydon in the southern suburbs of London. It is located in the wide central reservation of a dual carriageway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North End, Croydon</span>

North End is a pedestrianised road in Central Croydon, which includes entrances to the town's two main shopping centres, Centrale and the Whitgift Centre. The road has high street chains including Next, Zara, French Connection, and a large branch of department store House of Fraser. A large Debenhams store on the west side of the road did not reopen after the 2020 Coronavirus lockdown as the company entered administration. North End was closed off to all forms of motor traffic in 1989, to entice shoppers to choose Croydon over its main south-east London rival Bromley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St George's Walk</span>

St George's Walk is a partially covered shopping parade in the centre of Croydon, London that houses many independent stores. It was completed in 1964 by Ronald Ward and Partners, the designers of St George's House, at one end of the walk, and Millbank Tower in Westminster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nestlé Tower</span>

St George's House is a 79-metre (259 ft) office tower located in Croydon, United Kingdom. It was occupied by the Swiss multinational food and consumer goods company Nestlé as the headquarters of Nestlé UK & Ireland until September 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of the London Borough of Croydon</span>

The London Borough of Croydon has a wide variety of buildings mainly from post-war through to modern. Much of the modern architecture in the borough is centred on the commercial centre of the town, with much of the Victorian designs spread out on both the northern and southern corridors of the borough. Many former warehouses and factories have been converted for other uses changing the external appearance of Croydon erratically.

References

  1. "Local history of Croydon". Croyweb. 2006. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
  2. UK airports owned and operated by BAA
  3. "Facts and statistics for the Croydon Tramlink". Transport for London. 2008. Archived from the original on 31 May 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  4. Transport for London. "New tram service pattern & timetable". tfl.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  5. "Town Centre Regeneration Projects". Croydon Council. Archived from the original on 1 August 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2008.
  6. "John Lewis plans for a department store in Croydon". Croydon Council. Archived from the original on 26 April 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2008.
  7. "The Gap store in Park Place". Minerva plc. Archived from the original on 8 October 2006. Retrieved 4 April 2008.
  8. "The future of shopping in Croydon". Croydon Expo. Archived from the original on 5 April 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2008.
  9. "Croydon is the most enterprising place in London". BBC News. 2007. Retrieved 19 January 2008.
  10. "Croydon is firmly on start-up maps". Croydon Guardian. 2007. Retrieved 19 January 2008.
  11. Malcolm Brabon, Business Link London (Croydon Guardian)
  12. "Economically active: Croydon". Nomis official labour market statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 13 December 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2008. Data is taken from the ONS annual business inquiry employee analysis and refers to 2005
  13. "Croydon Community Against Human Trafficking – CCAT & YCAHT" . Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  14. Croydon Advertiser, 20 January 2012, p.13