Partnerships are needed to help Hillingdon meet its ambitions, delegates heard at last week’s one day Investor Conference for the borough.
The Investors’ Story session at the February 13 event at the Battle of Britain Bunker followed the initial debate in which key council figure gave an ‘open for business’ message to investors.
The second session included some current investors in Hillingdon who looked how to achieve the developments the borough needs.
Cllr Jonathan Bianco, Hillingdon Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for corporate services and property, said: “The door is open, we need to form partnerships to move forward the ambitions for the council.”
He said a large part of that ambition is housing, whether through numbers imposed by Government of the Mayor or the acute need of residents.
He added: “We can’t achieve it on our own there’s no question of that. We need to do it in partnership.”
Cllr Bianco described changing work and life patterns and referenced one of Hillingdon’s well known employment areas, Stockley Park.
He said: “The work at home ethic has changed the relationship we have with offices and if you go down to Stockley, whilst there are some fantastic operators, there are also empty buildings and the question really going forward is: where does that use change?”
He said industrial develop needed to be carefully thought out and provide benefits for all, including jobs.
Neil Impiazzi, (speaking into microphone in the above image), partnership development director for SEGRO, described the transformation of the former Nestle factory in the borough into a modern industrial park, along with 1,400 homes and open space.
He said: “That’s the kind of power of partnership when you come together.”
Matthew Grant, development director for Colt Data Centre Services, which has a major presence in the borough, said infrastructure and connectivity to fibre and the National Grid were key factors which attracted the firm to Hillingdon.
He said: “In terms of things that helped us on the way, I think it was partnerships, starting with the chamber of commerce. They were really the key, the anchor that helped us connect.”
Neil Impiazzi said work done by SEGRO had shown the average industrial stock to be 36 years old and a unique opportunity is on offer to transform much of it and support the borough’s economy.
Cllr Bianco said the council is not against industrial development and wants to support investment that is in line with its ambitions for residents.
He said: “The fact that were holding this event I hope demonstrates that we are open for business.
“We are keen to talk, we want to talk, we want to form partnerships, we want to move this borough forward and we want to find opportunities for our youth – and there are plenty of grown up that need opportunities too.”
See our report on the third session at the conference here.
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