With the New Year comes a sense of new beginnings and of looking to the future. And as I embrace the dawn of 2024, I know our City residents and workers are doing the same.
As we reflect on the triumphs that defined the Square Mile’s journey last year, we can also look ahead to a future brimming with ambition.
2023 was an extraordinary chapter in the City’s story, marked by the coronation of a new King, historic moves, and ground-breaking initiatives.
We embraced fresh leadership at the City of London Corporation, with our new Town Clerk and Chief Executive, Ian Thomas.
We announced a major capital investment to refurbish the windows of the Golden Lane Estate, ensuring our commitment to enhancing the living experience for our residents.
We made progress on our relocation of Billingsgate Fish Market and Smithfield Meat Market to Barking and Dagenham, making way for the new London Museum at the historic site.
We launched our Vision for Economic Growth – a roadmap to unlocking £225 billion of investment and economic growth into the UK – benefitting your local City neighbourhoods and households across the country.
Our global reach extended even further with the inauguration of two US offices, forging new partnerships, and strengthening our international presence.
We unveiled a new City of London visitor brand and website – Things to do in the City of London – City of London – showcasing the best of the Square Mile’s consumer offer to London, UK, and international visitors – and promoting its world-leading culture, heritage, attractions, experiences, hotels, pubs, bars,
and restaurants.
And our City Belonging Project was launched to create a world-leading business environment where organisations and communities come together to promote diversity and
inclusion.
The return of workers to the Square Mile brought with it an influx of talent, and we now proudly host more than 615,000 people, a testament to the magnetic pull of our vibrant city.
Meanwhile, our parks and gardens – spanning 11,000 acres in London and southeast England – were awarded 15 Green Flags and five prestigious London in Bloom prizes.
And as we stand at the threshold of 2024, our gaze is fixed on the promise of continued transformation.
We continue to work at pace to help the Square Mile reach net zero by 2040, cut air pollution even further, and create a first-class street environment for our residents, workers, and visitors to enjoy.
And working closely with you, our Local Plan will guide the evolution of the Square Mile,
securing its place as a dynamic hub of commerce, leisure, and innovation.
As we step into the year ahead, I eagerly anticipate the momentous changes it promises.
Together, we will contribute to building a brighter and more prosperous City, London, and country, for everyone. Filled with determination and optimism, we stand ready to script the next chapter in the captivating story of the City of London.
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