An ambitious new 10-year growth plan was launched by Richmond Council at an event at York House, Twickenham on Monday, 23 March 2026.

The Richmond Growth Plan aims for 5,500 new homes in ten years, 500 new affordable homes in five years, a 20% increase in jobs, support for 1,500 new businesses, and action to raise incomes - particularly for lower-paid residents.

This comes alongside other key local infrastructure announced recently, with the plan being driven by a new Growth and Place Directorate in the Council in tandem with the South London Partnership, the London Growth Plan and the National Growth Mission.

Liberal Democrat leader of Richmond Council Councillor Gareth Roberts, said: "This is a great opportunity for Richmond.

"It's the first time we've actually focused on the growth potential of the borough.

"People don't think of Richmond being a science hub, but we've got the national physical laboratory, the heart of government science.

"We've got Kew Gardens, a world-recognised institute for botanic research.

"St. Mary's University is about to launch a medical school. We've got Harlequins, we've got RFU. We've got a Polo club.

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"There are these things that people don't really see as Richmond upon Thames, but are Richmond upon Thames.

"And this is what the growth strategy is all about, it's about unlocking that potential, selling that potential and making this a real heart of development and growth for south west London."

The Growth Plan puts a strong emphasis on sustainability, promising to explore community energy, heat networks, future sustainable energy investments, retrofitting and nature-based solutions to improving air quality.

It is heavily geared toward supporting the growth of the area's main business pillars, including small businesses, the film and TV industry, sport, tourism, research and development (R&D) and professional services.

Cllr Roberts pointed to a focus on high streets to supporting small businesses, in particular. To this end, the plan also homes in on skills and transport.

He emphasised that it is the small businesses that define the area, and the 10-year plan would work in collaboration with groups like Be Richmond, a Business Improvement District (BID), to support this.

Cllr Phil Giesler, lead member for business and growth, said: "This is a plan with purpose. Richmond has all the ingredients of a successful economy – talent, enterprise and world-class assets – but we need to be more ambitious in how we turn that into opportunity.

"This is about backing our businesses, attracting investment and making sure more residents can access good, well-paid jobs.

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"We're setting a clear direction for growth that is greener, fairer and built to last. It builds on the London Growth Plan and the South London Partnership's BIG Ambition, but crucially translates these into a focused, place-based plan for Richmond – backed by delivery."

Cllr Geisler signalled that the plan centres the need for business growth to benefit local residents, creating a Richmond that young people and the elderly alike were enthusiastic about and empowered to stay in via affordable housing and jobs.

Twickenham Riverside has some market sale, 50% affordable housing in a policy compliance scheme – 80% of which will be for social rent and 20% for intermediate.

Cllr Roberts also pointed to the Gregg's Bakery site and the Mereway development, with 100% affordable housing at Mereway.

Leader of the Richmond Opposition Green Party, Cllr Andrée Frieze, said: "The Green Opposition welcomes the focus on local growth, which is essential to creating vibrant town centres and reducing unnecessary journeys.

"We'd like to see an increased focus on eco and environmental industries, as well as use of empty shops and offices by community and social enterprises.

"We also want to make sure that no-one in Richmond is left behind as AI takes away jobs, and the map of opportunities for growth risks ignoring swathes of the borough, which are already all-too-often under-invested in, such as Hampton, Heathfield and Ham."

When asked if the housing involved in the plan honoured the council's ambitious 2030 net zero target and the 2043 net zero target for the whole borough, Cllr Roberts confirmed that both Kew Gardens and York House were undergoing significant decarbonisation.

He also confirmed that RHP was involved in retrofitting on their own stock and that a lot of eco-friendly solutions were being put in place in Ham in the Ham Close development, but that the Council was keen to increase its rollout of heat pumps and solar panels.

With mounting concern about solar panels being made in forced labour camps in China, a concern raised by Hampton School, Richmond Council is wary that there is an ethical supply chain in place at all times.

Upcoming updates on building sites, planning, initiatives and funding schemes should start to provide further clarity on how the plan will start to materialise.

To read Richmond Council's new growth plan in full, click here.

READ MORE: Richmond Council 'deeply alarmed' as Kew residents face eviction over housing sale

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