Sadiq Khan creates Night Time Enterprise Zones

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan (pictured) has announced a new £500,000 programme to create Night Time Enterprise Zones in the capital to help support London’s economic recovery.

The new zones will enable boroughs to encourage more people to use their high streets after 6pm and boost the local economy.

In partnership with the London Economic Action Partnership, the funding will create at least three zones across the capital where boroughs will work with businesses and local communities to develop ideas to make their high streets more accessible, inclusive and welcoming at night.

They will be supported to develop a range of ideas, such as extending opening hours or holding special events, taking measures to improve women’s safety and supporting good work standards for those working at night.

It follows the Night Time Enterprise Zone pilot in Waltham Forest in 2019, where extended opening times, events, increased promotion and repurposing council-owned buildings helped to increase footfall on Walthamstow High Street by 22%, improved safety perceptions and widened local participation.

The new programme supports the mayor’s ambition to make London a 24-hour city.

“High streets are the lifeblood of our communities and have a key role to play in our economic recovery from the pandemic," says Khan. "Our Night Time Enterprise Zone pilot showed what is possible for our town centres at night and by expanding the zones to more areas we will help local authorities and businesses make their high streets more welcoming and inclusive after 6pm. It’s another example of how we are working to build a better London for everyone after the pandemic.”

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