‘Britain is open for business’ is the takeaway from MIPIM Cannes

20 March 2019

Katie from public affairs agency iNHouse Communications reports back from MIPIM Cannes.

“Whilst this was the MIPIM before Brexit, everyone wanted to discuss opportunities to invest in the UK. This gave us the chance to discuss Otterpool Park and the wealth of opportunity the development provides. The formal MIPIM Cannes panel sessions constantly danced around the theme that ‘Britain is open for business’.  During MIPIM, the UK government announced £2.2 billion worth of new investment, including three new garden communities.

Add to this the fact that new garden towns are part of the government’s answer to solving the housing crisis with Otterpool Park viewed as potentially one of the most important developments in the UK. The recent awarding of £1.25 million from the MHCLG Garden Communities project fund, the highest amount awarded from 21 proposed new garden towns and villages, is testament to that.

Placemaking, transport and connectivity upgrades, sustainable developments and Otterpool Park’s commitment to 50% of the new garden town being green space with an increase in biodiversity all caught the imagination of those we spoke to.  It is now important to engage with all of these stakeholders now we are back in the UK, including developers, investment fund managers and infrastructure experts in the forthcoming weeks but suffice to say there is lots of interest in Otterpool Park.

There was a good level of interest and it’s clear the future is bright for the Folkestone area. The team has a great platform to build on.”