For too long, communities like ours in Croydon West have been overlooked. That’s why I’ve spent years pushing for the kind of long-term investment that can truly make a difference – not just quick fixes, but a sustained commitment to renewal shaped by the people who live here.
Now, that work is paying off.
A significant funding boost of £20 million is coming to the area surrounding Croydon University Hospital, spanning parts of West Thornton, Selhurst, Broad Green and Bensham Manor. This investment, delivered through the Government’s Pride in Place programme, will be spread over the next decade – £2 million every year dedicated to improving our community.
This isn’t just about the money. It’s about doing things differently.
For the first time in a long time, local people will be at the heart of deciding how this funding is spent. A new Neighbourhood Board, led by a chair and supported by the council and myself, as the local MP, will represent residents and work with the community to co-create a Pride in Place Plan. That plan will set out how up to £20 million is invested over ten years, and it must reflect what local people actually want and need.
Because local people know their neighbourhoods best. They know where investment is needed, whether that’s reviving high streets, improving green spaces, supporting local businesses, or creating opportunities for young people. They don’t need decisions imposed from politicians; they need the power and resources to shape their own future.
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That’s why I’ve already launched a survey for local residents, to tell me directly what matters most. If you’re in that area, please let me know your thoughts – this is your neighbourhood, your plan, and your voice is vital in making sure we get this right. https://survey.labour.org.uk/preview/rl9euaubalskqemhojfsbzshd
This announcement builds on a wider programme of investment we’re already seeing across Croydon. Through the Pride in Place fund, there has been £1.5 million invested borough-wide and £20 million for New Addington, supporting high street regeneration, improving public spaces and backing local businesses.
Croydon has also received a record £158 million through the Fair Funding allocation, a 37% increase in cash terms over this Parliament, helping to support essential services and families while investing in our future.
All of this is part of a bigger vision: a decade-long Plan for Change that backs the people who make their communities thrive. It’s about cleaner, safer streets, opportunities on every doorstep, and the homes, roads and GP surgeries that people need.
But what matters most is this: change will not be done to our community – it will be led by it.
For years, people here have felt that decisions were made without them. That era must end. This investment is about restoring pride, rebuilding trust, and giving local people real power to shape the places they call home.
We have a real opportunity now – not just to improve our borough, but to define its future together.
- Sarah Jones is Labour MP for Croydon West
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