Redbridge Council is set to implement a comprehensive strategy aimed at boosting local businesses and fostering economic growth across the borough. The Regeneration and Economic Development Committee met on Thursday, July 9, 2026, to discuss and agree upon its work plan for the upcoming year, with a strong focus on economic development and regeneration. The committee's discussions and decisions are detailed in the Public reports pack.
Director of Regeneration and Growth, Tom Dewey, presented an overview of Redbridge's strengths, including its transport connectivity and green spaces, while acknowledging challenges such as a higher-than-average economic inactivity rate. The council's framework for regeneration will encompass developing strategies and plans to facilitate growth and placemaking. 
A key area of focus will be the Economic Growth Strategy, which will address employment, skills, and inward investment. Councillors raised important questions regarding ensuring that inward investment benefits the local economy and prevents capital outflow. Tom Dewey assured the committee that this is a key consideration in policy formulation and that developing the economic growth strategy is important for tackling these issues. He also highlighted the importance of ensuring residents can earn enough to spend locally, fostering a circular economy. 
Discussions also touched upon the accessibility of new housing developments for people with specific needs and the potential job creation linked to these adaptations. Councillor Stephen Adams pointed out the significant number of micro-businesses in Redbridge and inquired about support for their growth, a sentiment echoed by Councillor Shorif Hossain Akhonda. Tom Dewey responded that supporting micro-businesses to grow and hire more staff is a key area. He also mentioned the Queen Victoria House Business and Enterprise Hub as an initiative that has been created to support local businesses to grow, which is now nearly full. 
The committee's work plan will also include a Regeneration Strategy, focusing on town centres, high streets, and commercial vitality. Councillor Stephen Adams suggested a borough-wide health check report for town centres and high streets to assess occupancy rates and footfall. Officers confirmed they are developing an economic growth dashboard for the whole borough that will inform the economic growth strategy. This dashboard will highlight how nine district town centres are performing, including footfall and spend data. 
Further discussions explored initiatives such as a wage incentive program and bidding for the Youth Guarantee, with a focus on growth sectors like construction and health and social care. Tom Dewey explained that the council is currently working on a wage incentive program, using DWP funding to incentivize local employers to hire local people. He stated that these jobs will be paid at the London living wage, which is considered critical for achieving inclusive growth.
Councillor Erza Doda highlighted the difficulties young people face in securing employment due to a lack of experience, and Tom Dewey suggested that the economic growth strategy would be a key pillar in addressing these issues. The committee also considered community wealth building and participatory budgeting as ways to involve residents and ensure local benefit from council spending and development. Councillor Kallan Greybe raised the idea of exploring participatory budgeting as a way for local residents to be involved in directly funding and making decisions about local development projects. Elizabeth Hannum mentioned that they have explored some aspects of community wealth building and participatory budgeting and that through the growth strategy, they need to determine what Redbridge's unique model will be. She also highlighted maximizing social value through commissioning and planning frameworks as a way to involve residents. 
Elizabeth Hannum, Economic Development Team Manager, discussed maximizing social value through commissioning and planning frameworks. The committee agreed to delegate to the Chair, Councillor Ben Cornish, in consultation with officers, to determine the specific topics for each meeting within the broader headings of the economic growth and regeneration strategies. The next meeting is scheduled for October 15, 2026.
