The Single Regeneration Budget enabled Made in London and South London Partnership to invest over £700K into south London manufacturing which along with the Wandle Valley covers the London Boroughs of Kingston, Bromley and Richmond upon Thames. The Wandle Valley is one of four corridors in London which have been identified as being in need of regeneration.

The Wandle Valley covers the London Boroughs of Wandsworth, Merton, Sutton and Croydon and supports over 2000 manufacturers in 13 industrial estates and other smaller scattered employment sites. Manufacturing activity is varied e.g. food, engineering, instrumentation, clothing etc.

One of the main problems faced by businesses in the Wandle Valley is the lack of land for expansion and this is an increasing problem because the demand for redevelopment for housing is also increasing.

Regeneration Corridors in London

Lee Valley – North London
Park Royal – West London
Thames Gateway – East London
Wandle Valley – South London

The South London Partnership programme is driven by manufacturers for manufacturers and the majority of the funds allocated are to assist businesses with capital investment, the balance aids industrial estate regeneration. This funding is matched by the businesses and the process of choosing the companies which receive the financial support involves both a Steering Group and a Grants Panel. This consultative process identifies which manufacturers are most in need and which would do the most with the money provided.

The regeneration of the Wandle Valley area has been a great success with 264 businesses advised and over 500 jobs saved or created. In areas where industrial estate regeneration has taken place South London Partnership aim to set up Estate Groups to continue the work.

It is important that these Estate Groups are not reliant on public funding in the long term and of the 8 which have been established all are self funding. This successful programme of grants is now at an end as the SRB6 funding finishes in March 2005 and all funding has been allocated.