Shaping London’s economic future

Thanks for this survey, like many my main struggle is the cost of living. 

Despite working multiple jobs, my rent and travel costs take up 80 to 90 percent of my income per month leaving me with nothing to be social with and having to be very careful with bills and food costs.

I think London is particularly hard for single adults like me who have no-one to split costs with, Council tax is a huge strain.

I would love for travel to be made more affordable and businesses being held to account more. One company I work for is based in zone 1 and makes massive profits, but doesn't pay us anywhere close to London living wage.

I think some regulation around businesses based in very expensive areas with high turnover paying a certain rate to staff would be a huge positive change.

Oh dear, just read through a good part of this thread. Not many positive points here.  So here's a shout out to the cultural life of London, the beauty of so much of the city, the diversity across all of our boroughs, ethnic, age, etc, the buzziness of places like the Southbank  - that's why I live here in spite of the problems.   So though I agree with so many of the complaints, cost of housing v wages, too many boarded up shops and the street crime, lets all agree restoring the glory of London is worth fighting for.  When you've digested these responses City Hall, how about seeking some ideas for community responses, so we can play our part in solving at least some of the problems.  

It feels like street crime has got worse. I'm scared to use my phone in the street , and worried about young relatives getting killed for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  This has got worse over the last 10 years.  This must put companies off investing in London.  And too many parts of inner London sorely lacking trees and greenery - bad for the people, bad for the environment. 

I’m still quite young and London has got perceptibly worse in my lifetime.

Crime, lack of job opportunities for people starting their career, cost of living, housing prices, social atomisation. I feel like everything is forcing non-homeowners out of the city.

I’m fortunate enough to have a STEM background and I am seriously considering emigration. I don’t feel like I can have a successful or fulfilling life and career in London or Britain more broadly anymore.

Ealing Council has No Heart or Soul it Robs Motorists with its Stealth Cameras and Has Zero Customer Service.       DPJ777.

It is hard to define a ‘London Economy’ as it is made up of so many smaller subsections. Most people stay in their own towns and local areas, occasionally venturing “Up West” or to somewhere like a Westfield. Central London is full of small enclaves catering to particular groups and the main streets eg Oxford Street have almost become no go areas for locals. I go into London 4-5 times a week to visit the theatre, ballet, museums, restaurants and parks as I believe there is no point living here if you don’t avail yourself of the world class facilities. However, my children have grown up, I have free travel and my mortgage is paid off so I am in a privileged position. My four adult children (25-32; degrees from Russel Group unis; well paid), find living and working in London very expensive and in one way or another are supported by their parents to do so. I do not come from generational wealth and have done well in London, where I was born, but it’s not easy to live here, despite its many advantages and opportunities. The rapid rise in population has also made everything so much harder and the lack of listening and “reading the room” by local and national politicians and the pandemic and Brexit aftermaths have created a sense of ennui that is hard to shake off, especially in the young. The attitude I come across is, “l’ll never be able to…” and “…it’s alright for you…” To my mind, Optimism is at an all time low and the city feels in a low mood. It’s dirty, over-crowded, we’re losing the sky with all the towers being built (most of which don’t address the housing needs), the cost of living here has rocketed - it’s a hard city to be in right now and middle income Londoners are bracing themselves for the national government’s tax increases, which hit London earners harder, as we are paid more, yet it takes no account of the high cost of living. London weighting may as well not exist. London is a very divided city, it's currently hard to move up in the world living here.

I have spent most of my life in London, and as a young man loved it. Thought i would live here for the rest of my life

Now i hate it and do not want to live or work in it any more.

It has no life or soule anymore and no sense of community. 

I worry about my children going out with the rising crime. Due to the lack of decent police, there recruitment is more about how many languages they speak rather than them being fit for purpose. HAve no respect for there lack of action wasting time guarding the mayor, who is a wast of space and skin, and iintent on destroying London.

Ulez has caused my family and work a lot of money for nothing, it has also stopped several exibitions taking place.

My local high street is dead.

as for all the crap flats and lack of propper family housing. Planning is obviously corrupt. 

Pre and Post Covid the worst impact upon London as a city has been the parochialism. I'm born and raised and still live in Hackney but the borough and the wider city is suffering because of entitlement from those who've priced out and social cleansed the borough and the city. I feel like the place I'm from lost its soul through gentrification and an influx of entitlement. 

Affording to live in London is increasingly difficult, rents and house prices represent a ludicrous percentage of income for most that the city is something that con only be enjoyed with great restraint

Wages and inflation need a complete overhaul 

I have lived in Ealing since 1985 and have seen the deterioration of the borough over the years. Our streets and pavements are constantly being dug up for various reasons causing disruption in travel around Ealing and the pavements are uneven resulting in us falling and slipping on the leaves which aren’t swept away in autumn. The passageway between south and north road which leads to my flat is used as a dumping ground and open toilet by the council tenants/housing association leaseholders and is very dangerous for us to walk in especially in winter and when it rains. Ealing council refuses to take any action in improving the situation and expect us to deal with it all. It is disgusting for us to come home at night and see them weeing on our gates and walls and our wheely bins robbed and their rubbish scattered on the pavement outside our passageway. Despite repeated complaints made to the council, they don’t take any action against their tenants who are the perpetrators and harass us in this way. 

There is a huge disconnect between salaries and house prices. Even a "good" salary working in the City means all you can afford to buy in London is a cramped apartment, often in areas with poor amenities or next to railroad tracks, which is simply not worth the price charged. Ever more identical overpriced "luxury" high rise shoeboxes are getting thrown up, ruining the cityscape and the quality of the housing supply. We need higher quality, spacious housing that not just the top 0.1% can afford. Sure, London has jobs that pay more than non-London jobs, but it is a terrible place for trying to start a family.

Youth crime and drunkenness are big problems in Actotand this isn't helped by our having so few Police Officers available 3 only for the High Street and surrounding area. In the last 4 weeks alone I've had to call the Police and London Ambulance services on two separate occasions to deal with injured drunks and have them taken to hospital for CT scans. The services have been excellent but they are so overwhelmed it is ridiculous and we all know that shops who are struggling to stay in business have sold these young idiots alcohol despite their being obviously highly intoxicated. Such shops simply have to be monitored and shut down if they persist in such actions

London can see improvements once key issues are addressed, including violent crime (knife crime), violence against women and girls, illegal immigration, and the problem of two-tier policing. Tower Hamlets suffers from corruption, where preferences for social housing and small business funding seem to favor a specific demographic, but you already know this.

Getting around London is of paramount importance. Painting cycle lanes and closing roads is discriminatory towards people with disabilities, families, the elderly and in general people who do not travel around with just a backpack.

The serious solution should be to increase drastically the number of buses (Superloop is a start but far from enough) and public transport in general. Elizabeth line is great, but if you miss the train for certain West London destination it's gonna be a 30 min wait....

Invest heavily in high quality public transport and refrain from cheap, short term initiatives only good for posturing.

The one thing London is famous for: Creative Arts, which have been decimated-and getting worse-5 years running. 

The night-time economy has no support-transport on “24 hour” buses is a joke; the buses and trains do not meet the airport requirements; travel rates, and CC and ULEZ should have eliminated fuel-buses and yet still streets are polluted by TfL. The bus drivers are mean-spirited and disregard safety. Residents are forced to live on high streets in shocking conditions that prevent them from a good night’s rest while bars, theatres, cinemas and restaurants struggle to stay open, provide good entertainment and are also responsible and penalised for joys and excitement of the patrons, having licenses revoked or limited.  

As a country which considers itself influential, excellent recycling and clean streets (beyond the square mile) should be a given. Having a meal disturbed by the stench of a rubbish collection after 9pm (more unnecessary noise) and leaving rubbish for the desperate foxes and homeless to wreck and disperse, while much is exported to the global south, is an embarrassment for citizens.

All tourist locations should be free to locals. Big franchises should be paying for housing and arts as condition of their permit. All high rises should be using and contributing green energy to their neighbours, commercial business must provide a full week of volunteering for homeless and aged. Cars should be forced to park outside city limits to empty streets and improve TfL efficiency and increase services. All events should be streamed at low cost so all can enjoy. Hooliganism and racism should be given maximum penalty. The mayor should be revolting agains protestor arrests. Red telephone boxes should be repurposed to provide quiet space for over-stimulation with seating for the less mobile. The city should be littered with water fountains and solar powered bins. All estates and railway lines should have lawns/weed replaced with food and bee-friendly pollinators

I love London and work for the NHS.I would like to see London NHS workers get free or discounted transport or for the Inner London uplift to consider actual housing costs and travel costs. 

Further, I am very much for active walking and cycling as transport. I see minimal attention made, however, to making the pavements safe for pedestrians. 

There have been great strides made to keep cyclists safe on the streets. Unfortunately, many London cyclists are cycling on the pavement and running red lights. On my route to work, this appears to be for the convenience of circumventing a one way system,  to avoid stopping behind buses, and for perceived wider space than the provided cycle lanes. Now I’m seeing mopeds and motorbikes following suit.

I have nearly been run over by cyclists running red lights in front of my local police station on multiple occasions. I’ve had multiple patients clipped or sideswiped by cyclists and broken bones and bruised faces. I finally spoke with the police about it and they said both of these acts are illegal but not enforced and that enforcing the law would need to come down from the London Met Police via my local MP. 

I would like to walk on the high street and other roads without being scared out of my wits by cyclists racing toward me head on or tailgating me as I walk on the pavement. I would like to cross on the green man protected crossing and zebra crossing without feeling like the cyclists are not going to stop and I’m going to have to run to get out of the way. And I would like the same for my patients.

I fully understand the frustration regarding pedestrians walking into cycle lanes. That, however, is a different argument.

In envisioning a future in London, thriving would involve access to a dynamic job market that fosters innovation and creativity. It would require supportive networks, a decent quality of life, and the availability of resources such as affordable housing and reliable public transport. Additionally, opportunities for continuous learning and professional development would be crucial for adapting to the rapidly changing economic landscape.

Regarding the local high street, what I appreciate most might be the diversity of shops and the sense of community it fosters. A vibrant high street can serve as a social hub, offering a mix of local businesses, cafes, and markets that reflect the character of the neighbourhood. However, the least appealing aspect might be the presence of empty storefronts or a lack of investment in the area. This can detract from the high street's vibrancy and make it less inviting. A focus on revitalising these spaces, encouraging local entrepreneurship, and enhancing public amenities could significantly contribute to the overall economic growth and community well-being in London.

A decent job or a good workplace often embodies several key elements. It would provide a healthy work-life balance, opportunities for professional growth, and a supportive environment where employees feel valued and respected. A strong sense of community, collaboration among team members, and a culture of innovation are also vital. Moreover, a good workplace should prioritise diversity and inclusivity, allowing for varying perspectives and ideas to flourish.

As for successful economic growth in London, it would manifest in several ways. A thriving job market with diverse opportunities across various sectors, including technology, finance, and creative industries, would be a strong indicator. Additionally, increased investment in infrastructure, sustainable development, and public services would contribute to a vibrant economy.