Thames Gateway and the Olympics

Case study: Belvedere Employment Area

At 229 hectares, the Belvedere Employment Area is one of the largest industrial employment areas in London, with a strong heritage of manufacturing. It is home to major employment sectors like distribution, food production and warehousing, and so plays an important strategic role in the local and regional economy.

The Belvedere Employment Area is capable of achieving a net increase of between 5,000 and 10,000 additional jobs by 2016 and, if successfully upgraded, would attract jobs from higher technology and innovation investment, to complement the more traditional warehousing and distribution uses. Invest Bexley's vision is to establish Belvedere as a business location of choice for a wide range of employers.

Transport improvements

Transport improvements are needed to improve access and provide better services in the area. The London Borough of Bexley is pressing for major transport links to Belvedere, proposing the North Bexley Transit to serve the area and a Crossrail station, as well as a new link road and improvements to pedestrian and cycle routes.

Belvedere Link Road

Significant funding has been secured from Communities and Local Government (CLG) for regeneration projects in Belvedere. The funding will build a link road between Church Manorway and Mulberry Way, greatly improving access between major employment sites in the area. The project will allow for improved public transport services, providing part of the route of the proposed North Bexley Transit.

Belvedere Wetlands

The Belvedere Wetlands project will complement the Belvedere Link Road project, improving the sustainability of the area, make it safer, more competitive, more attractive and reducing flood risk. Work includes new linkages and public realm improvements to connect the employment sites and local housing with the marshes as well as an improved network of cycle routes, footpaths and better links to Belvedere Station and the River Thames.

Veridion Park

Veridion Park is a new 67 acre business park with planning permission for around 680,000 sq ft of offices, light industrial, warehousing and distribution space. The first phase of Veridion Park's development saw the opening of the Thames Innovation Centre, which aims to bring innovative and higher skilled businesses to Bexley borough, and the completion of the Horizon Business Centre.

Imperial Gateway

The London Borough of Bexley has granted planning permission for a major mixed-use scheme in Belvedere. The development will include 400 new homes, 750 jobs, a hotel, new retail space, designated play areas, a health and fitness centre and community enterprise facilities.