Developers, architects, builders, landowners and property agents gathered in Stamford yesterday (17th July) to hear about the investment opportunities that are being promoted in South Kesteven.
InvestSK – South Kesteven’s economic development and regeneration company – joined forces with the ambassador programme Team Lincolnshireand South Kesteven District Council to showcase investment opportunities across the district.
The networking event took place at the former Cummins Generator Technologies site which, when combined with land from the Burghley Estate, is to become St Martin’s Park, a 35-acre mixed-use development blending employment space, commercial use and housing.
This is just one of a number of development sites totaling more than 300 acres across South Kesteven which were highlighted by an InvestSK delegation at the international property expo MIPIM in March.
Among the other development opportunities promoted at the event were Riverside Business Park in Bourne, Gonerby Moor in Grantham and Exeter Fields in Stamford.
Those attending the event heard speeches by Councillor Matthew Lee, the Leader of South Kesteven District Council and Councillor Kelham Cooke, the Deputy Leader of South Kesteven District Council; Councillor Colin Davie, Executive Councillor for Economy and Place at Lincolnshire County Council and a Board Director at the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership; and Tim Downing, Director of Pygott & Crone and Team Lincolnshire member.
The event was hosted by Jon Hinde, Head of Economy and Skills at InvestSK.
“St Martin’s Park is indeed a bold, crucial, statement of intent – but it is just one piece of a far bigger and inspiring vision for the district of South Kesteven,” said Councillor Lee in his address.
“My vision is clear: I want to boost economic prosperity for all, create a better quality of life for everyone living in the district, drive down social injustice and ensure that everyone has equal access to those new opportunities through the right skills, housing and employment.
“To achieve our vision, we will be investing our own council funds with the intention of unlocking up to £400 million pounds of private sector investment. We are already putting the right mechanisms in place – such as arm’s length companies like InvestSK – and most crucially, we want to work closely with the private sector to make that vision a reality.”
Councillor Cooke said: “Cummins’ decision to withdraw from this site for business reasons was disappointing, but at the same time it created an opportunity that was quite simply too good to miss for South Kesteven District Council to acquire the site. Working alongside our partners, Burghley Estate, we are determined to seize the opportunity that St. Martin’s Park offers.
“When I look around this site, what I envisage is a world class mixed-use development that blends employment and commercial uses with housing that meets the needs of all generations.
“If we are not bold, we risk missing growth and investment opportunities and allowing Stamford to become a rather beautiful and charming dormitory town. For SKDC and Burghley Estate, that option simply is not on the table.
“We know there are local companies looking to grow and expand, and new companies that want to move into the area. Our task is to enable this to happen.”
South Kesteven is strategically located beside the A1 and the East Coast high speed mainline, just over an hour by direct train to London and Leeds, and well connected by road and rail to the cities and industrial heartland of the Midlands.
Its 6,000 businesses contribute just under £3 billion a year to the national economy and growth and productivity levels consistently outstrip national rates.
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