Location:
The London Borough of Bexley forms part of an area to the East of London called the Thames Gateway, which has been identified by the UK Government and the Mayor of London as the part of the City that will receive most new investment in transport and infrastructure over the next 15-20 years. With a five-mile Thames river frontage it already has excellent access to major road, rail, air and sea routes to the rest of the UK and Europe.

Transportation Services:
Bexley has direct access to the M25, M20 and M2 motorways and major trunk roads. London City Airport is 30 minutes away, while London Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports and the new Kent International Airport are within one hour. Local rail services take you to London’s mainline railway stations in less than 30 minutes. Tilbury Docks and Thames Europort are 45 minutes away, while links to Europe through the Channel Tunnel and Dover are just one hour away. Further Thames river crossings are proposed, including additional bridges, and a new interchange for the Channel Tunnel is being constructed at Ebbsfleet, just 20 minutes away.

In an Assisted Area:
Yes, Tier 2 grants are available in Thamesmead East Ward and Tier 3 throughout the borough.

Other Kinds of Financial Assistance on Offer:
Bexley Council can help with local property taxes; financial assistance to meet staff recruitment and training costs; grants to start new businesses; access to venture capital and business angels.

Available Sites Include:
Competitively priced properties, both leasehold and freehold, exist across the Borough. Design and build options are available, enabling buildings to be constructed to the needs of your business. There are a number of sites in excess of 4 hectares (10 acres).

Major Business Parks:
Isis Reach, Belvedere (16 hectares/40 acres); Optima Park, Crayford (12 hectares/30 acres); Thamesmead Eastern Industrial Park, Thamesmead (16 hectares/40 acres); Imperial Park, Belvedere (4.8 hectares/12 acres).

Isis Reach, Belvedere

Office Developments Include:
Offices available from a few hundred square metres up to 3,000 square metres. Opportunities on the above sites (and others) for new office developments

The Woolwich Offices, Bexleyheath

Major Industries in the Area:
Manufacturing, engineering, financial services, retail, distribution, printing and construction.

Major Companies in the Area:
Archer Daniel Midland, BP Global Special Products, Caterham Cars, Coca-Cola, Dixons, Europa European Express, Ferndale Foods, ICL, Lidl, Linpac, Office Depot International, Pirelli, St. Ives, TDG Greene King, The Imagination Group, The Woolwich (part of Barclays plc), Vencil Resil.

Advice and Assistance:
Locating sites and premises; finding and training new and existing staff, including work trials and customised training; financial assistance; networking with other businesses and other customised support from the Council’s Economic Development Team and its partners.

Contact:
Chris Tomlins, Economic Development Officer, Bexley Council, Economic Development Unit, Wyncham House, 207 Longlands Road, Sidcup, Kent DA15 7JH. Telephone +44-(0)845-602 0033. Fax +44-(0)20-8312 0238. E-mail edu@bexley.gov.uk Web Site www.bexley.gov.uk/business

Summary:
As one of London’s greenest boroughs, Bexley in the south east of the City boasts the best of town and country living. It has a wide variety of good quality housing and schools and is just 11 miles from the centre of London, with over 90 parks and open spaces and just a few miles from the open countryside of Kent. Bexley is within 45 minutes of six major universities and four colleges of further education. Bexley enjoys an active cultural scene and offers a wide range of sports and leisure amenities. Bluewater, Europe’s largest retail centre is only 15 minutes away.