The opportunities for Croydon’s industrial sector, along with sustainability challenges, post-pandemic were highlighted at the Develop Croydon Conference at a session sponsored by Prologis.
The Industrial Opportunities panel featured Alex Gale, Partner at SHW, Bronwen Jones, Development Director at Gatwick Airport, John Walker, Acting Managing Director at CT Local and Rupa Patel, Executive Director at Day Lewis.
Host Joe Lynam encouraged the panel to focus on three key questions for Croydon – the opportunities for the borough’s industrial sector, how Croydon will adapt post-pandemic and the sustainability challenges faced in the borough.
Asked about Croydon’s appeal as a location for industrial business, Alex Gale said: “It used to be about widget making and manufacturing, but Croydon has moved to last mile logistics; it’s about being closer to customers.”
Rupa Patel, who employs 250 staff in the borough, added: “Employees want a nice environment to come to, somewhere to go for lunch breaks, to be able to cycle to work and park their bikes, and good transport links.
“People who are here in Croydon, love Croydon. We want investment in the next generation. It’s about thinking long-term.”
One of the major topics of discussion was sustainability.
John Walker, from CT Local, said: “To make sites more sustainable we need EVs (electric vehicles) and EV charging points. We need cycle lanes and safe cycling, which can be an issue with some of the main roads in Croydon.”
Asked how sustainability might be a challenge for Gatwick, Bronwen Jones said: “People tend to think of Gatwick as flying off on holiday and business travel, but freight is an important part of the growth of Gatwick. We’re not a big depot, most of our freight is on aircraft with passengers, which is sustainable. We currently handle about 150,000 tonnes of freight every year.
“We’ve got to find ways of cleaning up how aviation operates, but we need to think of carbon as the enemy, not aviation. Gatwick will do its bit in terms of our local campus, like encourage sustainable travel to and from work and making sure the vehicles operate cleaner and greener.”
Croydon’s Purley Way is viewed as an attractive space for industrial opportunity, but speakers expressed a desire for service improvements, such as attractive places for employees in the area to go for lunch, safer crossings, and reduced traffic congestion.
Looking to the future of industrial logistics in Croydon, the panel were hopeful the next generation would deliver through a pipeline of talent and high quality jobs, as well as innovation in sustainable energy.
Alex Gale, from SHW, said: “Amazon are going electric in Croydon, and DPD are on their way to going fully electric in Croydon, too. The next generation of industrial developments are on the way.”
Rupa, from Day Lewis, said: “I’ve been in Croydon for 40 years, and I hope we can be in Croydon for another 40 years, but we need good quality space; people want height, automation, good services and utilities, and EVs. We need a pipeline of talent now and in the future.”