11^th July 2025

Labour is backing local businesses and driving economic growth after a decade of decline, with Surbiton High Street set to receive a £50,000 boost from the Mayor of London as part of efforts to enhance and revitalise high streets. 

Labour is supporting communities like Surbiton to rebuild and thrive after years of economic stagnation. This new investment is part of Labour’s wider plan to deliver growth and opportunity across the country, helping to turn the page on decline and stagnation.

Thanks to Labour leadership, the UK economy is now growing faster than any other country in the G7, showing that Labour’s economic mission to deliver sustained growth is working.

Surbiton is one of a dozen high streets across London set to benefit from £50,000 in new funding from City Hall, part of Mayor Sadiq Khan’s commitment to protect, restore, and improve London’s high streets.

The investment is a key part of the Mayor’s London Growth Plan, which aims to turbocharge productivity and add more than £100 billion to the capital’s economy. By supporting local businesses and revitalising community spaces, the High Streets for All Programme (HSPL) will help high streets like Surbiton’s thrive once again.

Welcoming the announcement, Kezia Coleman, Chair of Kingston Labour, said:
“This is great news for Surbiton. We have so many brilliant local businesses, from cafés, to independent book and gift shops, and even a wonderful zero-waste store. Sadly, some local businesses did not survive the economic downturns of the last decade, and the pandemic.

High streets are the beating heart of our community. They’re not just places to shop, they’re where people come together. Surbiton is host to many great events for social connection, and community togetherness. This new investment will help support Surbiton and the local economy for the benefit of everyone.”

This new investment will support councils to develop plans to transform high streets to thrive and remain vital community hubs, including:

• Creating more affordable workspaces where they are most needed, and for key sectors, such as the creative and green industries.

• Bringing empty shops and buildings back into use for local businesses and community organisations, to breathe new life into high streets.

• Designing and maintaining high quality, accessible and inclusive high streets that are safe, child-friendly and consider the mobility needs of a range of people. This includes increasing step free access.
• Growing evening and night-time economy to ensure high streets are open and accessible to the community for longer periods.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I‘m determined to protect, restore and improve London’s high streets – which is why I’m so pleased to provide this new funding for boroughs across the capital that will help them grow and thrive.

“My High Street Place Labs programme plays an important role in driving progress on the London Growth Plan, which will deliver economic growth in every corner of our city to raise living standards, put more money in people’s pockets and enable us to invest in our public services.”