Night Time Enterprise Zones
Following a successful pilot in 2019, the Mayor expanded his Night Time Enterprise Zones programme across the capital and, in November 2022, he announced that Bromley town centre, Vauxhall and Woolwich had been chosen as London's new Night Time Enterprise Zones.
Each area was awarded a grant of £130,000 to develop a range of activities and programmes to make their streets more welcoming after 6pm and supporting businesses, encouraging more Londoners to use their local high streets at night.
Bromley’s programme included a series of ‘BR1 Lates’ events that brought music, a silent disco, street food, sports and wellbeing and interactive light displays to the high street and underused spaces like Bromley library. This was alongside a programme to improve the work standards for night time employees, improved lighting and The Umbrella Project, which raised awareness about neurodiversity.
Lambeth hosted a range of ‘VauxhALL Night’ events, which featured cinema and karaoke, night food and art markets and Black History Month events. They transformed arches, tunnels, disused streets and a city farm at night. More than 400 businesses joined a night time business forum, nine safe havens for women, girls and vulnerable people were created and 10 new Lambeth Allies venues, providing safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people.
The Royal Borough of Greenwich organised a series of ‘Woolwich Lates’ events, including family friendly activities in General Gordon Square, open mic nights and sport during the school holidays, and a culture trail showcased new artworks hosted by local businesses. A Night Worker Handbook was also devised to support night workers with advice about welfare rights, health and fitness and cost of living information.
Impact of the zones
Programme highlights
- 56 events took place across the three zones drawing people to the high street, including:
- 1,800 attendees at the Queermas makers market in Vauxhall
- 3,000 attendees at the Library Lates event in Bromley
- 4,000 attendees at the Royal Arsenal Riverside Summer Festival in Woolwich
- 65 businesses extended their opening hours during the events – which increased the average local spend by up to 70 per cent between 6pm and 9pm compared to the same dates in 2022.
- Over 69% of people surveyed said they felt safer during events and the majority felt more positive about their area
- The programme created new partnerships and networks within the areas, with 646 businesses engaged.
What are Night Time Enterprise Zones?
Many high streets and town centres close down after 6pm, shutting their doors to those wanting or needing access to shops and services. That’s why the Mayor and Night Czar launched the Night Time Enterprise Zone programme - to help councils, communities and businesses make better use of their high streets around the clock and attract people who
previously stayed away.
The programme aims to help local areas by:
- Extending opening hours and boosting activity on the high street after 6pm, giving businesses more opportunities to increase income and footfall.
- Giving local people and visitors better access to shops and services after 6pm.
- Making the high street more welcoming and inclusive for a diverse range of people after 6pm.
- Increasing the number of night workers that benefit from good work standards.
London's first Night Time Enterprise Zone
Night Czar, Amy Lamé, and former Leader of Waltham Forest, Cllr Clare Coghill, on Walthamstow High Street.
On 10 September 2019, the Mayor announced that Walthamstow High Street had been chosen to run the Night Time Enterprise Zone pilot project.
The pilot demonstrated a wealth of opportunities to re-imagine and animate high streets later into the evening and showed that a night time economy does not need to result in a monoculture based on alcohol consumption. High street footfall increased by 22 per cent during the pilot, perceptions of safety improved and the programme helped to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment, encouraging families to extend their stay on the high street. Re-purposed council buildings also provided a much-needed space for young people to meet and participate in the life of Walthamstow.
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