Croydon Council Launches Croydon Commercial Platform for Businesses​

Key Points

• Croydon Council, in partnership with Develop Croydon, has launched a new website called Croydon Commercial.
• The platform provides up-to-date listings of vacant shops, offices, and industrial spaces available to rent across the borough.
• It aims to help residents, entrepreneurs, and investors quickly find suitable business premises to support economic growth and bring vacant spaces back into use.
• Supporting local businesses, entrepreneurs, skills, and learning opportunities aligns with key priorities in Executive Mayor Jason Perry’s Business Plan.
• The initiative is part of the Mayor’s Croydon Growth Plan and a broader drive to attract inward investment, regenerate the borough, and revive high streets.
• Recent improvements in Croydon include better transport links and enhanced green spaces.
• Croydon Commercial is funded through the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), with Croydon Council receiving London’s largest grant of £1,433,340 last year.
• The funding will boost skills, support businesses, and enhance community spaces across the borough.
• Executive Mayor Jason Perry stated: “Croydon Commercial makes it easier than ever for businesses to find the right space and invest in our borough. By showcasing the range of commercial opportunities available, we’re supporting local entrepreneurs, attracting new investment and helping to drive Croydon’s economic growth. Projects like this are helping to restore pride in our borough and are putting Croydon on the map as a place where residents and businesses can thrive.”

Croydon (South London News) February 7, 2026 – Croydon Council has partnered with Develop Croydon to launch Croydon Commercial, a new digital platform aggregating up-to-date listings of vacant shops, offices, and industrial spaces available for rent throughout the borough. Designed to streamline the search for business premises, the website targets residents, entrepreneurs, and investors, aiming to foster economic growth by reactivating empty properties. This initiative underscores the council’s commitment to revitalising high streets and attracting investment, as outlined in official announcements.

What Is Croydon Commercial and How Does It Work?

Croydon Commercial serves as a centralised online hub where potential tenants can browse current vacancies in commercial properties across Croydon. The platform features detailed listings for shops, offices, and industrial units, enabling users to filter options based on location, size, and other specifications.

According to the official launch details from Croydon Council, the site brings together real-time data to simplify the process of finding suitable spaces, thereby reducing vacancy rates and stimulating local commerce.​

As reported in the council’s press release, the digital tool supports a wide audience, including local residents starting ventures and external investors eyeing opportunities in South London. By consolidating information previously scattered across multiple sources, Croydon Commercial eliminates time-consuming searches, allowing businesses to act swiftly on available premises.

Why Was Croydon Commercial Launched?

The launch addresses longstanding challenges with vacant commercial properties in Croydon, particularly amid efforts to recover high streets post-economic pressures. Croydon Council highlights that the platform directly tackles underused spaces, promoting their swift reoccupation to boost footfall and economic activity.

This move aligns with Executive Mayor Jason Perry’s vision for borough-wide regeneration.

Furthermore, the initiative responds to priorities in the Mayor’s Business Plan, which emphasises nurturing local businesses and expanding skills and learning opportunities.

The Croydon Growth Plan, a complementary strategy, integrates this project into a larger framework for inward investment and infrastructure upgrades. Recent enhancements, such as improved transport connectivity and upgraded green spaces, have already laid groundwork for this economic push, making Croydon more appealing to enterprises.

How Does This Fit into the Croydon Growth Plan?

The Croydon Growth Plan positions Croydon Commercial as a pivotal tool in regenerating the borough. As detailed in the plan’s documentation, the strategy seeks to revive high streets through targeted investments and property activation. By drawing in new businesses, the platform contributes to job creation, community vibrancy, and sustainable development.

Develop Croydon, the council’s regeneration arm, collaborated closely on the platform’s development, ensuring it meets market needs. The Growth Plan also encompasses broader ambitions like enhancing public realms and connectivity, with Croydon Commercial acting as a practical enabler for these goals. Official sources note that such projects restore civic pride while positioning Croydon as a thriving hub for commerce.

What Funding Supports Croydon Commercial?

Funding for Croydon Commercial stems from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), where Croydon Council secured London’s largest allocation of £1,433,340 last year.

This substantial grant underscores Croydon’s priority status for regeneration efforts. The funds are earmarked specifically to bolster skills training, business support, and community space improvements across the borough.

As per council announcements, the UKSPF investment enables the platform’s operation and related initiatives without straining local budgets. This financial backing amplifies the project’s reach, ensuring sustained promotion of commercial opportunities. The award reflects national recognition of Croydon’s potential, channeling resources into tangible economic drivers.

What Are the Key Priorities in Jason Perry’s Business Plan?

Executive Mayor Jason Perry’s Business Plan explicitly prioritises supporting local businesses, entrepreneurs, and skills development. Croydon Commercial embodies these goals by facilitating access to premises, thereby enabling startups and expansions. The plan, accessible via council channels, frames such platforms as essential for fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Perry’s statement, as quoted in the launch materials, encapsulates this focus:

“Croydon Commercial makes it easier than ever for businesses to find the right space and invest in our borough. By showcasing the range of commercial opportunities available, we’re supporting local entrepreneurs, attracting new investment and helping to drive Croydon’s economic growth. Projects like this are helping to restore pride in our borough and are putting Croydon on the map as a place where residents and businesses can thrive.”.​

Who Benefits from the Croydon Commercial Platform?

Residents launching homegrown enterprises stand to gain most directly, with easy access to nearby vacancies suiting small-scale operations.

Entrepreneurs benefit from tailored listings that match ambitious scaling needs, while investors scout high-potential sites for larger portfolios. The platform’s inclusivity extends to diverse sectors, from retail and professional services to manufacturing.

Local high streets, long plagued by voids, see revitalisation as units fill rapidly. Indirectly, the community profits through increased employment, training programmes funded via UKSPF, and enhanced public spaces. Develop Croydon’s involvement ensures listings reflect borough-wide diversity, from town centre hotspots to suburban industrial zones.

What Recent Improvements Have Been Made in Croydon?

Croydon has undergone notable upgrades recently, including superior transport links that ease commuter and logistics flows. Enhanced green spaces improve aesthetics and livability, drawing businesses seeking modern environments. These developments, referenced in council updates, complement Croydon Commercial by making listed premises more attractive.

Transport enhancements encompass better bus and tram integration, alongside cycle lanes, supporting eco-friendly operations. Green initiatives feature pocket parks and tree-lined avenues, aligning with sustainability mandates. Together, these bolster the platform’s efficacy in promoting Croydon as investment-ready.

How Will Croydon Commercial Drive Economic Growth?

By centralising vacancy data, Croydon Commercial accelerates lettings, injecting vitality into dormant properties. This reactivation spurs spending, job creation, and supply chain activity.

The platform’s marketing of Croydon’s opportunities to external investors amplifies inward flows, diversifying the economy beyond retail.

Skills and learning tie-ins, funded by UKSPF, equip locals for new roles in incoming firms. High street revival mitigates anti-social behaviour in empty units, fostering safer communities. Long-term, sustained occupancy rates signal stability, attracting further capital.

What Role Does Develop Croydon Play?

Develop Croydon, the council’s dedicated regeneration body, co-developed the platform, leveraging expertise in property and investment. Their input ensures listings are accurate, visually appealing, and market-responsive. As partners, they promote Croydon Commercial through networks, maximising visibility.

This collaboration exemplifies public-private synergy, with Develop Croydon bridging council policy and commercial realities. Their track record in growth projects reinforces credibility, assuring users of professional curation.

What’s Next for Croydon’s Regeneration Efforts?

Future phases may expand Croydon Commercial with analytics, virtual tours, or matchmaking services, building on launch success. Integration with the Croydon Growth Plan promises ongoing UKSPF-backed enhancements. Monitoring vacancy reductions and business startups will gauge impact.

Mayor Perry’s vision extends to comprehensive high street masterplans, potentially incorporating pop-ups and mixed-use developments. Community feedback loops could refine the platform, ensuring adaptability. Overall, Croydon Commercial marks a strategic step in positioning the borough as South London’s economic powerhouse.