08 Oct West London Alliance, Ealing Council and Imperial College London Host Roundtable on West London’s Economic Future: West London in a Polycentric Capital
On the 7th October we partnered with Imperial College London to host a pivotal roundtable event – “West London in a Polycentric Capital.” Chaired by Cllr. Peter Mason, Leader of Ealing Council, the event gathered leading figures from West London’s academic, business, and public sectors to explore how the region can respond to—and thrive in—a rapidly changing economic landscape. The discussion will inform forthcoming research from Centre for London, commissioned by Ealing Council in partnership with the West London Alliance and Imperial College London.
London is grappling with productivity challenges and evolving economic patterns in the wake of the pandemic and under a new government. In this challenging context, West London is poised to play a leading role in shaping the capital’s future. With initiatives such as the Imperial WestTech Corridor, the White City Innovation District, the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham’s Local Industrial Strategy, and Ealing Council’s new Jobs and Skills Strategy – plus growth in key sectors such as film and screen, logistics, and life sciences, West London is a focal point for innovation and economic diversification, expanding the capital’s fiscal centre of gravity far beyond central London.
The roundtable, chaired by Cllr. Peter Mason, Leader of Ealing Council, offered the first glimpse into exciting new research on polycentrism and its implications for West London’s economic development. With contributions from John Anderson, Chief Investment Officer for Imperial; Cllr. Stephen Cowan, Leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council; Antonia Jennings, Chief Executive of the Centre for London; and Stuart Bridgett, Finance Policy Manager at London Councils, the discussions will play a crucial role in influencing the upcoming London Growth Plan.
In the context of idling productivity across London, a key topic of discussion was the strategic importance of West London’s industrial and infrastructure developments. With speculation following the Labour Party Conference about the potential loosening of restrictions on capital investment, West London is well-positioned to become a significant player on the global economic stage—vital for achieving the new Government’s economic growth mission.
For more information, please contact:
Majeed Neky, Assistant Director, Economy, West London Alliance on nekym@ealing.gov.uk
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Speakers from the event (L-R): Stuart Bridgett, Finance Policy Manager at London Councils; John Anderson, Chief Investment Officer at Imperial College London; Cllr. Stephen Cowan, Leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council; Cllr. Peter Mason, Leader of Ealing Council, and Antonia Jennings, Chief Executive of the Centre for London.