Westminster City Council has launched two new plans designed to support economic growth and help more key workers live in the city.
Its first-ever Growth Statement sets out ambitions to strengthen Westminster’s position as a leading global economy, attract investment and create more opportunities for residents and businesses.
Five priority sectors have been identified:
Of particular relevance to the Harley Street community is the council’s recognition of Westminster’s world-leading healthcare and life sciences cluster as an important driver of innovation and economic growth.
The statement also outlines plans to take a more supportive “towards yes” approach to investment and development. A new pro-growth City Plan is being developed, alongside a 15-year strategy bringing together planning, infrastructure, skills, investment and economic development.
Separately, the council has published a Key Worker Housing Delivery Plan to make it easier for nurses and other essential workers to find affordable homes in Westminster.
The plan includes increasing the number of key worker homes delivered through council development programmes, reviewing housing allocation policies and exploring planning changes to increase the supply of intermediate housing.
The council will also consider broadening the definition of a key worker and lobby the Mayor of London to ensure eligibility criteria reflect the cost of living and working in central London.
The two plans reflect the council’s ambition to attract investment and support Westminster’s strategically important industries while ensuring the people who sustain its businesses, healthcare services and communities can continue to live and work in the city.
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