Overview

Think South London!

Think of investing in London and many would immediately turn their attention to the City or Canary Wharf. By so doing they ignore the potential of the area south of the River Thames stretching from Richmond in the west across a dozen boroughs to Bexley in the east. The South London area currently boasts more than 93,925 businesses, including almost four hundred firms each with more than 250 employees.

What brings companies south of the river and keeps them there? A range of surveys show that good access to markets, quality of life and transport links feature strongly. With Heathrow to the west, Gatwick to the south and Stansted to the north east the area is within 30 minutes to an hour of the three major airports serving the capital. London City Airport is now more conveniently accessed thanks to a direct link on the Docklands Light Railway while south London’s own business airport at Biggin Hill is geared to serve the company executive. The London Heliport is on the Thames between Battersea and Wandsworth bridges for those requiring rapid access in and out of the City.

With premises cost averaging half that typically encountered in the City and the West End, firms south of the river benefit from a London address, easy access to the centre and reduced overheads. Southwark, Croydon and Lambeth have the lions’ share of the office market in south London whilst Bexley, Southwark, Merton and Croydon have the highest stock of industrial space. Croydon is particularly well equipped for Mall shopping with its Whitgift, and Centrale shopping centres. Croydon, Bromley, Wandsworth and Kingston possess the largest share of retail space. However Richmond and Wimbledon, although smaller shopping locations, are in heavy demand by retailers due to the affluent residents who provide a ready stream of income.

Business confidence in the south London economy remains high evidenced by a stream of new and planned developments in most of the sub-regional town centres. One of the largest regeneration projects in the capital, 38 acres, is at the former Battersea Power Station in Wandsworth earmarked for a mixed development of residential retail and leisure. And, of course the Thames Gateway, the largest regeneration project in Europe will take place as much south as north of the river with improved links across the tideway. In just one of the south London Gateway boroughs – Lewisham – £250 million of business, residential, leisure and infrastructure regeneration is now underway.