spotlight focus - southall
West London’s thriving high street, cultural destination and growing industrious town. place to live, work, and socialise, and it’s just a stone’s throw from Heathrow. With its vibrant and diverse population, Southall’s multiculturalism is its strength. It’s the buzzing and internationally renowned home of South Asian culture in the UK – from Bollywood movies to food, fashion and festivals – which all showcases the town’s spirit.”
Economic growth, business and investment The cornerstone of Southall’s economy lies in its expanding business community, which has witnessed a 20% growth since 2015. This town is bustling with approximately 400 enterprises, providing more than 4,000 jobs and playing a pivotal role in the local and borough-wide economy.
Southall-
a place to live, work and socialise.
Just a stone’s throw from Heathrow, Southall boasts a vibrant and diverse population of 70,000 people. Southall is the London borough of Ealing’s second-largest town, and holds 21% of its population. One of its strengths lies in its multiculturalism, with 86% of its residents identifying as non-white. Internationally, Southall is famed for its South Asian delicacies, unique retail experiences, fashion and jewellery offerings. The town showcases a robust multi-faith foundation, with more than 40 faith venues, that underscores the harmonious unity in Southall.
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Cultural destination Southall is the UK’s premier destination for the best of South Asian culture and heritage. Major events like the annual Mela are hosted here, drawing thousands from both locally, regionally and internationally, and celebrations like Diwali and Eid showcase the spirit of Southall. Adding to its cultural significance, Southall has a strong history in film production. The renowned Southall Studios operated between 1924 and 1958. Given its prime location, there is a rising buzz about Southall as the UK’s ‘Home of Bollywood’. Councillor Peter Mason, leader of Ealing Council, said: “Southall is iconic. It’s a great
Catering and manufacturing dominate Southall’s commercial landscape. A significant 70% of its commercial floorspace is industrial, hosting many of London’s pivotal industrial estates. There is 55,736 sqm of flexible commercial space, with an additional 40,510 sqm of business/industrial space being developed or earmarked for the near future. Southall is home to many key public sector entities, including major employers Ealing Hospital NHS Trust and St Bernard’s Hospital. In addition, nearly 3,000 residents in Southall are employed at Heathrow Airport. This synergy extends further with renowned international food manufacturers, such as Noon Products and Delifrance based in the town, which produce many in-flight meals for airlines operating out of the airport.
Southall is iconic. It’s a great place to live, work, and socialise, and it’s just a stone’s throw from Heathrow. With its vibrant and diverse population, Southall’s multiculturalism is its strength.”
