Planning chief wants to put Croydon on the property map (From Croydon Guardian)

Planning chief wants to put Croydon on the property map

11:00am Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News By Andrew Bloss

The council’s planning chief is hoping to promote Croydon to the ‘Premier League’ of property when a delegation of businesses fly to France next week.

Mike Kiely, head of planning and building control at Croydon Council, is hoping he can help attract big businesses and developers to invest in the town at the international conference.

For the third consecutive year Develop Croydon are heading to Cannes, France, for the MIPIM Festival.

Keynote speakers at the conference which is from March 12, to March 15, include Peter Cole chief investor of Hammerson and Mark Glatman chief executive of the Abstract Group.

Mr Kiely said pitching to some of the biggest developers in the world is too good an opportunity to turn down.

He said: "If you are not here then you are not in with a chance.

"Property in the UK is not about London, it is about Zone One. It is about the West End and the City. Somewhere like Croydon, which has a fantastic offer, has to work hard.

"We are not in the Premiership. We are not on a par with the Canary Wharf’s of this world. We are in the Championship so we have to work very hard to create a quality product."

Mr Kiely added that costs were being kept to a minimum for this year’s trip.

He said: “We are flying out on Easy Jet. We are staying in a bed and breakfast but it really is just a bed as we don’t get breakfast. It has cost us very little.”

Nathan Elvery, the newly-appointed chief executive of Croydon Council, said: “Croydon has embarked on an ambitious programme to renew and improve its infrastructure and office offer.

“We are working with a broad range of private and public sector partners to implement our masterplans which we have developed collaboratively over the past few years.”

Mark Glatman, Chief Executive of Abstract, said “The reasons for investing in Croydon are numerous.

“These include the exceptional connectivity by public transport between Croydon and central London, the strong base of highly-respected occupiers, the skilled labour base and the funded public realm improvements by Croydon Council.”