Local economy and investment

Kingston upon Thames has an impressive track record of delivering high profile and large scale developments - and a pipeline of opportunities to continue this. Innovation has a strong history in the borough and today it boasts some of London’s strongest business start-up survival rates. 

The borough is London’s oldest Royal borough with a rich and extraordinary history. The borough is where the coronation of England’s first kings took place and today boasts a thriving retail scene and is recognised as one of London’s Metropolitan Centres, nestled in a stunning riverside location bordered by royal parks and a palace. 

Strategically located in South West London, Kingston offers a prime business environment, sitting between two major airports as well as being within easy reach of both central London and the English countryside.  Making it the ideal destination for business success and quality of life.

Kingston has a particularly rich source of talent: 65% of residents educated to degree level
or higher, significantly higher than that of London and the UK. Very high levels of managerial, director and professionally qualified residents, and a large ‘top 60’ university excelling in science, engineering, computing and architecture.

Favoured by global brands including Merlin Entertainments (Chessington), Lidl’s UK head office, and the site of Unilever’s new UK & Ireland headquarters in Kingston town centre. Other established leading employers include Sega Amusements, BAE Systems and Bausch and Lomb UK Ltd.

Kingston is a diverse borough, home to people of a range of  different cultures and backgrounds.  This includes Europe’s largest Korean community and a thriving Sri Lankan Tamil community around New Malden, all helping to create the town’s colourful cultural and  food scene. People across the borough are immensely proud of its rich diversity and multiculturalism.

Kingston is progressive and innovating to ensure that in the future, we all thrive. The borough has an experienced track record of delivering high profile and large scale developments. The borough has ambitious net zero targets and good sustainable development is part of meeting that commitment.

We want to place Kingston’s unique history and heritage at the heart of any regeneration to provide the communities, economy and homes local people value. We are ready and willing to discuss these sites further with investors, developers, contractors and potential joint venture partners. 

To find out more about why Kingston is the ideal place to invest and see our current opportunity sites visit www.kingston.gov.uk/invest