PRD supported London borough of Croydon to develop Unlocking Croydon’s Potential, an inward investment plan for the borough and the first Local Authority Growth Plan launched in response to the new London Growth Plan.

These plans set out a clear and confident case for why Croydon is primed for investment, partnership and growth and what these must deliver.

Boasting connectivity, a growing population and a resilient business base, Croydon is well-suited for sustainable investment. It also faces acute challenges, namely rising living costs, uneven opportunity and a weakening traditional retail core. These issues have begun to test market confidence and have limited the borough’s ability to shape an inclusive economy.

In pursuit of reframing the narrative and illuminating Croydon’s potential, PRD updated the borough’s economic baseline. This revealed critical trends such as a sharp rise in town centre residents and economic strengths in health, construction, the foundational economy, and logistics. This informed a clear-eyed assessment of Croydon’s strengths, as well as barriers to investment.

For the inward investment plan, Unlocking Croydon’s Potential, we led a programme of engagement, working closely with officers, members, businesses, community groups and developers. Alongside our evidence base, engagement helped define a set of inward investment principles and priority outcomes that are needed to deliver, both in terms of specific places or neighbourhoods and wider economic considerations such as upskilling and enterprise opportunities.

Croydon’s new Growth Plan sets out key sites and investment narratives, showcasing the borough’s ambitious plans and abundant benefits. It is designed to raise confidence and encourage partnership working in the market. It embraces a collaborative model for delivery of regeneration that works for its community.