A bright future for Sutton as we go into 2025

As we welcome 2025, I was delighted this week to see Sutton is number eight in the the top places to live in England. This is according to The Times' annual list which uses data including local school standards, NHS waiting times, green spaces and average house prices.

Sutton really is a hidden gem. I have lived in the borough all my life along with my children and this highlights what I have always known: Sutton is a fantastic place to live, work and raise a family. From our excellent schools and green spaces to our strong sense of community and some of the safest streets in London, Sutton has so much to offer and that’s why more and more people are choosing to call it home.

In Sutton we can be proud of our efficient and well-run local services. From just under 14 million bin collections in Sutton in 2024, to social care supporting over 2,500 adults on a long-term basis and providing 110,000 meal vouchers to support 12,000 children during school holidays. Nearly half a million books have been borrowed from our local libraries and almost 3,000 children took part in our summer reading club.

We can be really proud that we are making sure our residents, and especially our children and young people, have a future in Sutton. The regeneration of our main town centre is also picking up pace, creating a modern and sustainable place to visit or work that’s full of opportunities for businesses, shoppers and visitors alike.  I spoke in last week’s Sutton Scene column about how all our district shopping centres across the borough are thriving and it was fantastic to meet some of our local business owners and their staff.

And let’s not forget the London Cancer Hub, which is set to make Sutton a global leader in cancer research and treatment. It’s not just about innovation - it’s about making a real difference in people’s lives while bringing new jobs and investment to our area. This year will see the outline planning application for the site, a key milestone development for this exciting project. 

This recognition from The Times shows what’s possible when we work together as a community. Sutton has so much to be proud of - and the best is yet to come.

Here’s to 2025 - hopefully another fantastic year for our borough!