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The London Cancer Hub is already Europe's leading cancer research district and landmark investment on the site is transforming it into the global centre of innovation in cancer research and drug discovery.
Sutton Council recently selected insurer Aviva and developer Socius to develop a 5-hectare site next to the renowned Royal Marsden hospital and Institute for Cancer Research. Aviva and Socius will deliver one million square feet of research, treatment and innovation spaces alongside residential accommodation and amenities for local people and visitors.
The Council has been working with partners since 2013 to create a shared vision for the London Cancer Hub that has allowed ongoing investment into the site. This has included the new Harris Academy Sutton, an award-winning STEM specialist secondary school built to Passivhaus standards in 2019, the Maggies Centre in 2019, the ICR’s pioneering Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery opened in 2020, the Innovation Gateway incubator hub (2021) and, most recently, the Oak Cancer Centre at the Royal Marsden opened in 2023.
The London Cancer Hub is one of London’s most significant regeneration projects and once completed will make Sutton, and the capital, home to the world’s largest cancer life science district. It will also deliver major social and economic benefits for the entire UK, contributing circa £1.2bn to the UK economy and £12m increase in business rates. 13,000 jobs in health, science, education and construction will be created as part of the project, as well as space for start-up, growing and established businesses.
A £14m award was secured in 2023 from the Levelling Up Fund to double the frequency of trains and improve journey times between the London Cancer Hub and central London by 2026.
The ambitious transformation of Sutton Town Centre is already underway; the Council has big plans to create a vibrantand sustainable town centre with outstanding culture, food, shopping, modern flexible working and over 3,000 new homes.
The “big six” groundbreaking regeneration schemes are showcased on the Council’s new regeneration website which shares artwork, sketches and further details about the projects: Sutton Civic and Town Centre, Northern Gateway, Oru Sutton, Throwley Yard, 137 - 145 High Street and Elm Grove Regeneration.
In 2024 the town centre will see the start of its exciting transformation with the opening of Oru Sutton and Throwley Yard.
Oru Sutton, a partnership between Sutton Council and Oru Space, opened in September 2023 and is an environmentally-friendly co-working, hospitality and wellbeing hub. Supported by the Mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund and Grow Back Greener Fund, the project offers Sutton’s small and medium enterprises affordable workspace and community-led nature initiatives. In addition, the site also offers wellbeing studios offering classes, including yoga; the award-winning Trinco restaurant; and soon to open a rooftop area featuring a community public garden, bar and restaurant.
Set to open in spring 2024, Throwley Yard is a new cultural venue, including an independent cinema set in a former nightclub. Sutton Council has partnered with the Really Local Group to create a new community culture and arts venue. The site will include four cinema screens, flexible performance space, a DJ school in partnership with Dixon Brothers, and quiet areas for study.
The historic buildings at 137-145 High Street have been at the heart of Sutton High Street for nearly 100 years. With support from the Future High Streets Fund, the Council will refurbish and upgrade the buildings into modern retail and business spaces while retaining their historic features.
The Northern Gateway site has sadly been derelict for more than a decade, but following feedback from residents who wanted to see Sutton’s heritage restored, Sutton Council took on the challenge to transform it into a first-class adult education facility that will be the new home for Sutton College. New council homes will also be built to high sustainability standards and available at genuinely affordable social rent. Alongside the Elm Grove Estate regeneration, the project will transform the northern end of the high street.
Elm Grove will deliver up to 300 new, high-quality and sustainable homes for existing and new residents. Up to 50% of the homes will be affordable and the scheme will add new amenity space, with access to communal courtyards and play space on-site, alongside public realm improvements, including a new east-west link to the high street. Sutton Council has secured funding of £26.6m from the GLA to deliver the new affordable homes.
Sutton Council is committed to creating homes and opportunities for local people. The new development by St George’s, at the former B&Q site, will provide up to 970 new homes, including 186 new homes for social rent, and commercial space across eight buildings alongside new public open spaces and private residential amenity space.
Sutton Council acquired the St Nicholas Shopping Centre in Sutton Town Centre in 2021. This created an opportunity for the Council to lead the regeneration of this 4.7 acre site at the heart of the high street.
Sutton Council is selecting a development partner to work with the Council to create a new Civic Hub on the High Street to replace the existing Civic Centre. The redevelopment of the St Nicholas Centre with new, high-quality buildings will bring new shops, restaurants, bars, new council offices including a library and community hub, as well as much-needed affordable homes. This regeneration will also help people move around the town centre with better walking and cycling routes and new public spaces.
The current Civic Centre site, associated car park and the former Secombe Theatre building (Total 9.7 acres/4 hectares) create a development opportunity for new homes including affordable homes.
The Council is due to announce its development partner to take forward this large-scale programme in Autumn 2024.
Positioned between Heathrow and Gatwick airports, and less than 30 minutes away from central London by rail, Sutton is helping to create the opportunities that will protect and advance London’s competitiveness within global markets. Sutton is the ideal focus for London’s growth. It is home to one of the UK’s most significant regeneration projects, the London Cancer Hub, along with some of the best schools in the country and award-winning green spaces. The Council has significant town centre assets, and is developing these to activate vacant space and diversify uses to create a thriving town centre. This is being delivered as part of a holistic town centre regeneration plan to unlock development opportunities.
Population projections 2023 209,880
Population projections 2050 213,113 (GLA 2043)
London plan new homes (ten-year target) 4,690
Building council homes for Londoners (2023-28 predicted) 558
Elizabeth Harris, Economic Growth Lead
elizabeth.harris@sutton.gov.uk
“We’ve got big plans for Sutton as we support sustainable growth. We’re transforming Sutton Town Centre into a green and vibrant destination with great culture, food, shopping and modern flexible working. In the London Cancer Hub we are taking a once-in-a-generation opportunity and expanding our world-leading life-science district that is accelerating the fight against cancer. Across the borough we’re helping local people gain the right skills to access new jobs, so our economy will grow and people will have fairer and better opportunities. And we’re working towards a carbon-neutral Sutton by putting sustainability at the heart of our plans. We have a strong track record of working closely with developers and partners and we look forward to welcoming new investment and businesses into the borough.”
