THE Mayor of London has abandoned plans to create a major new employment “superhub” in Brent Cross.

Proposals to create four superhubs – in Croydon, Stratford, West London and Brent Cross – were announced in February to encourage employment in outer London.

The idea was being explored up by the Outer London Commission, established by Boris Johnson to discover ways in which outer London could play a greater role in the city's economy.

But deputy mayor for planning Sir Simon Milton told the GLA's Planning and Housing Committee meeting on June 9 that the willingness of businesses to relocate from central London had been overestimated.

He said: “The views that were fed into the commission were that there wasn't significant growth from companies that could move to London.

“They are in central London for a reason.”

The commission is now exploring the idea of encouraging smaller employment hubs in a greater number of areas.

Sir Milton said: “We are moving from the idea of four superhubs to a constellation of town centres, reinforcing existing patterns of economic activity.”

Encouraging the economic life of the outer London boroughs has been a key policy for councillor Mike Freer, leader of Barnet Council.

He has argued that greater investment is needed in boroughs like Barnet to ensure that London is in the best possible position to recover from the recession.