The Housing, Economy and Business Committee met on 16 September 2025, and agreed to adopt a new Economic Growth Plan, a revised Management Agreement with Sutton Housing Partnership, and an updated Planning Enforcement Protocol with associated fees and charges. The committee also discussed building safety, the Beddington Farmlands, and an affordable housing scheme on Westmead Road.

Economic Growth Plan Approved

The committee approved Sutton's new Economic Growth Plan, which aims to increase the number of businesses and jobs in the borough, encourage investment, and help residents and businesses benefit from economic growth. The plan identifies five priorities:

• Enabling a strong business environment to retain and grow existing businesses.
• Working with developers, agents, and landowners to maximise the potential of their assets and identify investment opportunities.
• Supporting Sutton to become the global home for oncology, referencing the London Cancer Hub.
• Developing Sutton's leisure and cultural offer across the borough, in line with Sutton's Cultural Strategy 2024-27.
• Helping residents and students access jobs, apprenticeships, skills, and career development opportunities.

The plan builds on recent policies to support economic growth, including the UK's Modern Industrial Strategy, the London Growth Plan, and the BIG Ambition: South London Growth plan. The committee also agreed that updates to the Economic Growth Plan will be reported back to the Housing, Economy and Business committee.

The Economic Growth Plan itself recognises the importance of digital and transport connectivity, and also sustainability and climate. The Climate Impact Assessment notes that the plan supports the Council's wider commitment to climate action and achieving net zero carbon emissions across the borough, as set out in the 2022-27 Corporate Plan.

The Equalities Impact Assessment notes that the plan will provide a range of economic benefits to all Equality Act 2010 protected characteristics with limited disproportionate impacts.

The Economic Growth Plan Data Pack notes that while Sutton has good business survival rates, it has a relatively low number of businesses.

Sutton Housing Partnership Management Agreement Updated

The committee approved a revised Management Agreement between the council and Sutton Housing Partnership (SHP) to ensure high-quality, cost-effective housing services. The updated agreement reflects recent legislative, policy, and regulatory developments in the social housing sector, and strengthens governance arrangements, promotes resident engagement, and ensures closer alignment between SHP's operations and the Council's objectives.

Key changes include:

• Strategic alignment with the Council's corporate priorities and the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) business plan.
• Legislative and regulatory updates to reflect the Regulator of Social Housing's Consumer Standards, Tenant Satisfaction Measures, the Housing Ombudsman's Complaints Handling Code, and the Competence and Conduct Standard.
• Strengthened governance and decision-making roles and responsibilities across the Council, the Housing, Economy & Business Committee, and the SHP Board.
• Strengthened scrutiny and governance on value for money and annual audits of HRA funding usage, along with targeted savings monitoring.
• Enhanced performance monitoring through regular joint governance and performance meetings.
• Requirements for SHP to conduct public procurement in line with the Procurement Act 2023 and the Government Procurement Agreement.

The committee also approved the removal of the fixed term tenancy clause from Sutton's Tenancy Strategy, following a recommendation from the Regulator of Social Housing. This change aligns with the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and the Renters Reform Bill 2024, and reflects existing practice, as the council has never granted fixed term tenancies. The updated Tenancy Strategy commits the council to offering stability, supporting strong communities and secure tenancies.

The Climate Impact Assessment notes that the revised Management Agreement supports the Council's commitment to tackling climate change and progressing towards borough-wide net-zero carbon emissions.

Building Safety Assurance Plan

The committee was informed of the activities being undertaken by Sutton Housing Partnership (SHP) to keep the Council's housing and residents safe and compliant with applicable legislation. The report provided assurance that the Council's Building Safety and Compliance legal and regulatory obligations with respect to the Council's social housing stock are being managed effectively by SHP. The committee agreed to receive an update on the Building Safety Assurance Plan on a bi-annual basis.

The report outlined SHP's Compliance Assurance Framework, which includes policies and strategies, performance against key performance indicators, and external assurance and audit reports. The framework covers core compliance areas such as fire, water, electricity, gas, asbestos, and lifts.

The report also detailed SHP's Resident Engagement Strategy for high-rise buildings, as required by the Building Safety Act 2022, and the status of Building Safety Cases for the Council's four higher-risk buildings: Argyle House, Balaam House, Brendan House, and Chaucer House.

Planning Enforcement Protocol and Fees and Charges Approved

The committee approved an updated Planning Enforcement Protocol and a schedule of fees and charges for certain planning enforcement services. The updated protocol aims to provide a consistent, predictable, and responsive service, with clear response times for different categories of alleged breaches. The fees and charges are intended to help fund the planning enforcement service and improve its efficiency.

The new fees, outlined in Planning Enforcement Fees and Charges Appendix A, include charges for:

• Enforcement Notice copy
• Compliance check
• Withdrawing an enforcement notice
• Enforcement meetings
• Enforcement queries

The updated Enforcement Protocol sets clear response times for each category of alleged breach, to facilitate monitoring of performance.

Beddington Farmlands Restoration Update

The committee received an update on the restoration of the Beddington Farmlands, a former landfill site, into a nature reserve. The report noted that Valencia Waste Management (VWM) was required to restore the site by the end of 2023, but has not met that deadline. The committee noted that a formal Breach of Condition Notice was issued on 5 September 2025.

The report also discussed the current planning application for the restoration, which has been amended to include lined ponds to prevent contaminated water from escaping. The committee was informed that the Council is waiting for the Environment Agency to confirm they are content with the planning application, before it is brought to the Planning Committee for determination.

The committee was also informed that the Bond, which was required by the relevant Section 106 provisions, lapsed in June 2024, and that the Council has obtained proof of funds from Valencia, as a first step to possible enforcement action in that respect.

The Breach of Condition Notice sets out the individual actions required, and gives a compliance period of 18 months.

Westmead Road Affordable Housing Scheme Approved

The committee approved a proposal to proceed with the development of a new affordable housing scheme at 71–75 Westmead Road, Carshalton. The scheme will deliver 34 new homes for social rent, including family-sized units and accessible homes, on a brownfield site.

The committee authorised the purchase of the site from PA Housing, the appointment of a consultant team, and entering into a contract with a contractor to deliver the scheme. The committee also approved the submission of a Section 73 application to vary the existing planning permission, and the appropriation of the site for planning purposes.

The revised design will deliver increased dual-aspect units, enhanced external amenity space, and improved sustainability, with the homes intended to be built to PassivHaus standards¹.

The Equalities Impact Assessment identifies a range of potential impacts across several protected characteristics, with the majority being positive or neutral. The Climate Impact Assessment notes that the development is expected to result in a long-term reduction in carbon emissions.