Up Front
£6m campaign to bring people into London
London’s recovery “hinges on high streets”
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced a £6 million investment to support the re-opening of London’s economy as COVID restrictions are lifted.
The local economic recovery could “hinge on high streets” and a London High Streets Board should be put together to set out plans for the capital’s reopening, according to a new report from the London Assembly Economy Committee.
Around £5 million has been earmarked to support the eventual reopening of central London, including a new campaign to attract visitors and tourists back into the capital later this year.
Two thirds of Londoners live within a five-minute walk of one of London’s 1,204 high streets. The assembly’s report highlights that without the boosting of high street business, a slow economic recovery is far more likely.
A further £1 million will be spent on attracting people from across the UK to visit the capital postlockdown, which will be vital for the recovery of hard-hit retail, hospitality and cultural venues. Working with the business community, new initiatives will be brought forward to encourage Londoners and tourists from around the UK back into central London. These are likely to include major
events that showcase central London’s public spaces and cultural riches. The money could also be spent on helping local businesses to put in place more al-fresco dining to enable hospitality venues to reopen successfully post-lockdown. The announcement comes as a new report lays bare the full extent of the challenges facing central London’s economy. Conducted by Arup with Gerald Eve and the London School of Economics, the report says that if home-working remains the norm for office workers and no further action is taken, this could lead to an estimated 86,000 fewer jobs
within the Central Activities Zone (CAZ) by 2031, with job losses in retail, food and culture. The economy of London could contract by £36bn by 2031, the study says – a significant hit to the UK economy. Sadiq Khan said: “Central London is the engine of the UK’s economy. There simply won’t be a national economic recovery from COVID unless all levels of government realise the crucial importance of protecting central London’s unique eco-system of shops, hospitality and world-leading cultural venues. That’s why I’m investing £6 million directly in attracting people back into London once COVID restrictions are lifted.”
Dame Judy Dench becomes patron of Salter Centenary Project
Renowned actress Dame Judy Dench has agreed to become the patron of an initiative that celebrates the work of two iconic figures in Southwark’s proud history. The Salter Centenary Project was launched to commemorate the lives of Ada and Alfred Salter, who devoted their lives to helping others and improving the lives of people in the borough. Next year will be the centenary of Ada Salter becoming Mayor of Bermondsey and Dr Alfred Salter becoming MP. Local residents are getting together to celebrate the Salter legacy and carry their inspiration forward. A range of exciting celebrations are planned for the weekend of 10-11 September 2022. Sheila Taylor of the Salter Centenary Project said: “We are delighted that Dame Judy is supporting this worthwhile campaign. It will really help us to showcase the centenary celebrations and the
work of two such important people in Southwark’s history. “Dame Judy is a Quaker like the Salters and in 2013 she helped to fund the statue of Ada on the riverfront. Like Ada, she’s an enthusiastic environmentalist, and it’s a great honour to have her support. “The Salters devoted their lives to work in three key areas: environment, housing and public health. Their vision was ahead of their time and is desperately relevant for the future of our world. We aim to create a weekend of events in the spirit of Ada and Alfred!” Ada was the first female councillor to be elected in Bermondsey in 1909 and eleven years later was elected mayor of the area, making her the first female mayor in the capital.
A social reformer, politician and environmentalist, she became a key figure in the Bermondsey Uprising – a strike which saw thousands of women march against appalling pay and working conditions. In addition, she embarked on a mission to make Bermondsey a more attractive place in which to live, bringing trees, parks and playgrounds to the area. Dr Alfred Salter was a Bermondsey GP who devoted his career to improving the health of local people. Born in Greenwich in 1873, he became the youngest person to study medicine at Guy’s Hospital at the age of just 16. He was also a politician, reformer and peace campaigner who served on Bermondsey and London councils, and was elected Labour MP for Bermondsey in 1922.
Londoners have rediscovered the benefits of having handy shops just a walk or cycle away, with a friendly face behind the counter. Businesses have had to adapt to meet customer and safety needs, developing online shopping offers or click-and-collect options. The London Assembly said now is the time to develop detailed plans, with the government’s economic roadmap to recovery well underway. The assembly has put forward five key solutions to support high street recovery. These include the establishment of a London High Streets Board to analyse threats such as COVID-19 and help shape an economic bounce-back. Under the assembly’s plans, the board would prioritise lobbying for business rates reforms and levelling the tax playing field between online and in-person companies. Increased financial support for business improvement districts and strategies for tackling vacant premises and driving footfall to local high streets have also been highlighted in the proposals. Leonie Cooper AM, chair of the London Assembly Economy Committee, said: “London’s recovery will partly hinge on its many local high streets. Before COVID-19 hit the city’s economy, there were 127,715 local businesses open in the capital’s neighbourhoods – about a quarter of the city’s commercial makeup. “It’s time to reap the rewards of reopening by doing it right and setting up a London High Streets Board. Getting this right will really allow us to build back local and build back better, fit for the new, more local future.”
Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 5
