Croydon launched its vision for a new ‘Creative Campus’ during a successful week at MIPIM – the world’s largest real estate exhibition.
The 30th year of the huge conference drew well in excess of 20,000 property professionals to Cannes for four days of panel debate and networking events.
The Develop Croydon stand’s eye-catching design drew big crowds in the London Pavilion throughout the week, as the borough’s delegation spread the word of their transformational regeneration project.
On the opening panel session of the event, looking at the growing importance of the knowledge economy to the capital’s future, CEO of LB Croydon Jo Negrini made the major announcement that London South Bank University have agreed to open a new campus in the town centre.
“We are here to announce a new partnership between the council and London South Bank University, which is the foundation for the new creative campus we want to deliver in Croydon. They are looking at roughly 10,000 sq m in the centre of Croydon,” said Negrini, who spoke passionately about the importance of creating cities for the future that were varied and full of life.
That message was reinforced at a packed Brunch on the Beach event on Thursday morning.
“It’s about blurred lines, people want somewhere where they can eat there, work there, live there. A variation of uses all working together,” Negrini told a packed contingent.
On Wednesday, a presentation from FI Real Estate Management’s Patrick Sheridan on the exciting scheme at Leon Quarter drew a large crowd to the Croydon Stand.
Shortly after, Shifa Mustafa, Executive Director of Place at LB Croydon, gave her thoughts on the importance of new modular building techniques in helping to meet the demanding housing targets across the capital. “We are embracing it in a big way, at the moment we have onsite the tallest modular development in the world at 101 George Street,” Mustafa told the audience.
“You need to think differently and look for new techniques, you can’t continue to just do things the same. Everything I’m hearing about modular is very positive and the quality is often higher.
“Tide’s towers are just one example of a very tall modular construction, but across our smaller sites as well we have a nice mix of modular developments and traditional developments so I think its really about having an open mind about new things and what works for each different site.”
It was the busiest and best MIPIM yet, with over 500 companies and 1,500 delegates in the London Pavilion alone, and Croydon were positioned right at the very heart of it all.
