Council launches next exciting phase of town centre regeneration

Sutton Council has this week announced the next stage of its ambitious plans to transform Sutton town centre with the search for a development partner launched for four key sites.

The Council is seeking a partner to redevelop the existing St Nicholas shopping centre, Civic Offices, Gibson Road car park and the vacant Secombe Theatre sites. Sutton Council wants to create a brand new Civic Hub on the High Street which will include council offices, a new town centre library and space to host a range of public services provided by the Council and its partners. 

The new Civic Hub will be a place which is open to everyone and will offer a variety of spaces for community activities and events. The Council bought St Nicholas Centre in August 2021 to ensure the town centre’s future by giving the Council greater control over a key landmark on the High Street. 

The development partner who is selected will be expected to undertake development which meets the Council’s objectives to create a vibrant and sustainable town centre with great culture, food, shopping, modern flexible working spaces and new homes alongside improving the public realm and biodiversity. 

This past month alone has seen the opening of co-working space Oru Sutton in the High Street, and works start at the Northern Gateway site, opposite Asda in the High Street, to build 22 new council homes and new premises for Sutton College. 

Councillor Ruth Dombey, Leader of Sutton Council, said: 
“We are ambitious for our borough and our residents and this is the latest phase of our regeneration plans to create a vibrant, sustainable town centre we can all be proud of.

“This is a major opportunity to make the most of our town centre’s transport connections, links to London and our growing status as the world-leading cancer research campus with the London Cancer Hub at Belmont. 

“Sutton is an exciting place to live, work and create the jobs, workspaces and homes that our residents and businesses deserve and want. There is a real buzz about the exciting changes we are starting to see in Sutton town centre and we want to build on that positivity and momentum with these plans for the St Nicholas Centre, Civic Offices and other sites.”