March 18th, 2010 by tonykildare
I’ve been impressed that Croydon’s ‘masterplanning’ approach to regeneration has proved a huge draw, for developers, investors and consultants. It’s an approach that focuses on collaboration, with a clear focus on delivery and getting regeneration projects off the ground.
We were grateful for Boris Johnson’s visit for afternoon tea on Tuesday – tea is a feature of our stand that everyone seems to like and has proved popular. Boris gave our head of urban design Tim Naylor a good hearing for our masterplanning approach and the plans for Wellesley Road and, although he didn’t respond to our idea for him to help fund the scheme, I am convinced that we’ve planted the idea there and it will be worth following up.
Everyone who knows Croydon welcomed our news that the East Croydon station bridge now has a definite go-ahead – it’s not a really big deal but it shows things are moving.
I can see that MIPIM is a little smaller than in previous years, but the level of interest is still high. The message for Croydon and the EDC is that this interest can be converted into inward investment… we just have to work that much harder to deliver. And that, after all, is why we’re here.
Tony Kildare, CEO, Croydon Economic Development Company
Tags: Boris Johnson, Croydon, MIPIM, regeneration
Posted in Investment in Croydon, MIPIM | No Comments »
March 17th, 2010 by tonykildare
Despite the recession, MIPIM 2010 is still packed with businesses, developers, investors and representatives from the world’s great cities. It’s still world’s biggest property and inward investment expo, but the competition is intense and sophisticated which means we have to work that much harder on Croydon’s unique selling proposition – our connectedness and our masterplanning approach to development.
For me it’s about meeting prospective investors, developing relationships and doing media interviews – so I’m really grateful for all the work my colleagues have done in planning my time, pretty much, down to the last minute.   No, really!
Our stand presents Croydon’s key messages very clearly and there has been plenty of interest in the masterplanning brief Croydon Council’s urban design team is presenting. ‘Masterplanning’ is a collaborative way of managing planning that includes partners and prospective developers from the start. They appreciate the involvement and all the signs are that it’s a more effective way of approaching Croydon’s regeneration. It’s just been featured in a big feature in the Guardian. There is a link on the ‘Press releases’ section of the CroydonatMIPIM website here.
I am due to meet London Mayor Boris Johnson later today – he’s doing the rounds of the stands exhibiting in the London Pavilion. I am hoping his visit will bring positive media interest in Croydon. I will report back …
Tony Kildare, CEO, Croydon Economic Development Company
Tags: Croydon, MIPIM, regeneration
Posted in Investment in Croydon, MIPIM | No Comments »
January 6th, 2010 by admin
Welcome to the Croydon Regeneration blog, about the London Borough of Croydon – the city’s largest borough. Specifically, it’s about developing in Croydon, a distinctive borough with unique challenges but also many advantages.
So why would a developer build a block of flats in Croydon? And how would that developer make those flats attractive to homeseekers…?
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