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Runnymede has a strong local economic base with
many commercial enterprises in the town centres, industrial estates
and business parks. Farming, equestrian and market gardening activities
dominate in the rural areas. The local economy, in common with the
rest of Surrey, is dominated by the service sector which employs
some 62% of the work force while manufacturing accounts for just
15%.
The Borough is becoming a major location for "knowledge"
based sectors including information technology, telecommunications
and advanced business services. This trend is set to continue with
the completion of major office developments within the Chertsey
Revitalisation Area and at the Hillswood Business Park near Chertsey.
Local businesses also provide services in the distribution, catering,
health, education and financial sectors. At the time of writing,
the unemployment rate in Runnymede stood at 1.1% - one of the lowest
in the country.
The healthy local economy can be attributed to a range of factors:
a highly skilled workforce, high levels of disposable income and
excellent communications, being situated to the west of London,
close to Heathrow and with direct access to the M3 and M25 motorways.
By 2006 it is hoped that there will be a high quality rail service
(known as "Airtrack") through Runnymede linking Heathrow
with Woking and Guildford. The Runnymede Business Partnership and
the Borough Council are working to ensure that this will provide
a service from a station in Runnymede.
The largest centres of commerce are contained in the towns of Addlestone,
Chertsey and Egham. There are also numerous trading estates and
business parks of various sizes with the Borough.
ADDLESTONE
The Weybridge and Bourne Business Parks are situated in Hamm Moor
Lane, Addlestone and are the location for many firms specialising
in manufacturing, distribution and repair together with computer
companies, including Sequent.
CHERTSEY
There are numerous trading estates in Chertsey, namely Chertsey
Bridge Estate, Fordwater Trading Estate, Gogmore Lane (offices)
and Hanworth Lane Business Park. There is also the recently opened
Hillswood Business Park which is home to a number of leading IT
Companies including Electronic Arts.
EGHAM
In Egham The Causeway (including The Green Business Centre) is home
to numerous software companies, manufacturers and distributors.
There are also the smaller Pine Tree Business Park on Chertsey Lane
and the Rivers Edge Industrial Park on River Park Avenue. Egham
is also home to Procter and Gamble's major research and development
facility.
THORPE
There is an industrial estate at Crabtree Road, Thorpe, part owned
by the Borough Council.
Other centres of significant employment growth adjoining the Borough
include Staines, Brooklands (Weybridge), Heathrow and Woking. |