- ‘Good growth’ project backed by Mayor, London Councils and the City
- Public sector funding and support to be matched by private sector
- Opportunity London Ambassadors will bang drum for the capital
A major new campaign is underway in a bid to promote sustainable investment into housing, regeneration and green infrastructure across London’s communities.
The £500,000 Opportunity London Project is backed and partially funded by the Mayor, Sadiq Khan, and the cross-party group London Councils, representing the capital’s 32 boroughs and the City of London Corporation.
A funding bid has begun seeking further financial backing – particularly from the private sector.
Formally launching later this year, it will take the form of an annual programme of co-ordinated events and activities targeted at the international investment community.
A group of London Ambassadors will become the faces of the campaign, and they will be drawn from supporter organisations as well as the capital’s sporting and cultural sectors.
The Ambassadors – representing the diversity of skills and thought that underpin the capital’s communities – will take the message to industry events in the UK and overseas led by the Government, the Mayor and the Lord Mayor – as well as hosting incoming delegations.
The aim is to showcase London as one of the very best places in the world to invest – particularly in real estate, regeneration and green infrastructure – and attract responsible investors, looking for long-term, sustainable growth.
The campaign will spotlight the role of the 32 boroughs and the City of London Corporation in driving economic growth, highlighting their vision for development and their top sites for investment and renewal.
Events where the campaign will be promoted include all three main Party Conferences, the London Real Estate Forum in September 2022, the UK Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREIIF) in May 2023 and MIPIM in Cannes, France, in March 2023.
Backers of the campaign believe it can succeed in attracting international capital seeking well-governed and commercial returns in a post-Covid and post-carbon world.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “To maintain London’s place as a leading global city we need to compete for investment in sustainable growth with other leading cities. Opportunity London is a great platform to do that, and I am delighted to be working with our partners to attract investment which will help us to build a better London for everyone, supporting good growth in our industries, jobs and communities.”
Laura Citron, Chief Executive of London & Partners, said: “London is a leading global destination for business. Our strengths in creativity and innovation have seen the city become a hot bed for socially responsible investment from green finance and clean tech to award winning regeneration projects like Kings Cross. Our city has a myriad of opportunities for investors seeking well-governed and long-term environmental, social and commercial returns and we should not be shy about spreading the word.”
Cllr Georgia Gould, Chair of London Councils, said: “London’s boroughs are leading the way in attracting investment into our communities and making sure our residents benefit from the opportunities good investment can create. Together we’re determined to secure London’s future as a fairer, greener, and more prosperous city.”
Keith Bottomley, Deputy Policy Chairman, City of London Corporation, said: “This campaign builds on the City’s reputation for backing sustainable investment to drive growth, create jobs and support regeneration. Opportunity London will showcase the capital’s strengths as an investment hub and we are proud to support it.”
Rob Heasman, Chief Executive of The Earls Court Development Company, said: “The 40-acre Earls Court site, as one of London’s biggest and best-connected development opportunities, is capable of delivering thousands of homes, unlocking huge potential for sustainable growth and being a global destination for investment and innovation. Community is at the heart of our vision to bring the wonder back to Earls Court, and so I can’t think of better ambassadors to bang the drum for London than the people who already contribute to its success”
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Notes to Editors
Opportunity London is supported by a dedicated website – www.opportunity.london – that provides borough-by-borough detail on economic development as well as capital investment strategies.
The events and communications programme is being delivered by New London Architecture in partnership with London Communications Agency and London & Partners.
List of existing supporters
• Greater London Authority
• London Councils
• City of London Corporation
• Berkeley Homes
• Almacantar
• Earls Court Development Company
• Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation
• New West End Company
• Primera Business Improvement Districts
For more information, please contact:
Paddy Hennessy, London Communications Agency, ph@londoncommunications.co.uk, +44 7836 256662
Bettina Gimenez, London Communications Agency, bg@londoncommunications.co.uk, +44 7708 148215
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