The Greater London Authority’s High Street For All (HSFA) Challenge has announced that the Purley Panel is one of a few successful recipients of its stage 3 funding. The award, totalling £149,000, will be put towards initiatives that aim to attract and engage with the local community in Purley. These initiatives include enhancing the public realm, developing pop-up retail opportunities, and creating regular events programmes to connect and attract communities. This funding will help to support Purley’s transformation into a thriving high street that is accessible and welcoming for all.
Initially, over 100 London organisations made submissions for this HSFA grant, which was soon whittled down to 1 entry per each of the 32 London boroughs in 2021, who were awarded an initial £20k seed fund. Of those entries, only a handful have got through to this next stage and larger funding.
Chair of Purley Panel Anna Bond said : “This is terrific news for Purley, its businesses and residents. We are so proud of the success of this proposal and winning the investment. We have been up against really tough competition to secure this grant and just shows the quality of the submission and effort that has been put in.”
It is expected that the main part of the grant will be used to fully investigate the details of the numerous infrastructure projects in the proposal, with the goal being that this will enable more funding to make those plans become a reality in the not too distant future.
Chair of the Purley Business Improvement District Simon Cripps added: “We are obviously extremely proud of this achievement and receiving the award. However, we are in no way underestimating the work ahead to deliver the final project. Two-thirds of this funding will be used to fully develop the themes in the proposal with the remaining third to deliver initial capital projects such as enhancing the laneways.”
Following his recent announcement to invest in reopening Purley Leisure Centre and Pool, the newly elected Croydon Mayor Jason Perry said: “This is really exciting news for Purley and its High Street. This investment into the area along with my recent promise will certainly kick start the regeneration process for Purley.”
The delivery and success of winning the HSFA grant have been a collaboration of many parties, including the Purley Panel, Purley BID and Consultants Urban symbiotics as well as many other organisations and individuals around Purley. Numerous surveys, engagement events and polls we conducted to find out what the Purley residents and businesses really wanted to direct investment into. Along the way, there were very interesting ideas such as a Zoo, aquarium and giant zip line, and the final submission can be found here: Purley High Street Challenge.
Local MP Chris Philp, who has already shown his continued support in backing this proposal said: “My congratulations go to the Purley Panel and team, that I know worked so hard against stiff competition to win this funding. I am so pleased with the success of the submission for this High Street Challenge which I know they will do a great job in delivering to regenerate Purley.”