Croydon businesses must "take advantage of Gatwick expansion"

by Ian Austen

Croydon must be ready to pounce on new business opportunities offered by Gatwick Airport, says the borough's regeneration boss.

Councillor Steve O'Connell stressed the need to take advantage of the proximity to an international airport after the council's cabinet approved an updated version of the town's economic strategy last week.

Cllr O'Connell, who is the cabinet member for regeneration, warned the Gatwick Diamond – which centres around the airport and Crawley – could affect Croydon in two ways.

He explained: "Whether or not the airport gets a second runway there is no doubt that it is going to expand, bringing with it new business opportunities.

"There is a danger that the expansion could sponge up jobs away from Croydon but I prefer to look on it as an opportunity."

Expansion, he said, would mean a need for new business premises, training complexes and conference facilities.

And he believes there would be problems with these services being provided extensively in the Gatwick area, because of protected Green Belt land there.

Cllr O'Connell added: "We must be ready to go and say to these businesses that we have a ready-made infrastructure here in Croydon to meet their needs."

He said Croydon's transport links meant that by train it was just 15 minutes from the airport and only slightly longer to central London.

The town also has sites for expansion, excellent shopping facilities and good housing, with more planned for the town centre.

"Croydon is being looked on by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson as a major economic hub and we must take advantage of that," Cllr O'Connell said.

As well as making sure opportunities at Gatwick airport benefit the borough, Croydon's revised economic strategy also stresses the importance of meeting head-on any threats from other London boroughs.

Key objectives to meeting those challenges include working with the Croydon Economic Development Company to improve the quality and range of the town's shops, improving hotel facilities and working towards establishing Croydon as a conference centre.

The strategy also wants to see a focus on attracting finance and insurance to Croydon.

And it adds that the CEDC and the council must improve relationships with small and medium sized enterprises and "strategic" businesses to maintain employment levels and secure re-investment.

It outlines proposals to increase the skills of Croydon's workforce through initiatives such as a national skills centre for the retail sector.

Cllr O'Connell added: "The first strategy published in 2007/8 was a good initial stab at things but we needed to flesh it out and I think we have done that."