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Nottingham prepares to sell itself to the world's top investors

The area, known as Southside, will comprise more than one million square feet with schemes by Peel Holdings at the heart of the rejuvenation.

The move by Nottingham City Council to Loxley House, a £60m building vacated by Capital One, is expected to kick-start interest in the area.

And next week, the potential of the emerging business district will be shown off at the world's leading property show in Cannes on the French Riviera.

The district has already attracted interest from Peel Holdings, one of the UK's leading property companies for its 200,000 square foot mixed office, hotel and retail/leisure scheme, Unity Square on the Sovereign House site, opposite the railway station.

Wilson Bowden's Sentinel in Wilford Road could also see the construction of 100,000 square feet of offices.

Nottingham property company Bildurn, led by Sean Akins, has been acquiring sites in Station Street and Carrington Street.

He is seeking to create a 200,000 square foot mixed-use scheme in Station Street.

Team Nottingham, the name given to the public-private sector led team selling the city at MIPIM, an international property trade exhibition in Cannes, includes quantity surveyors and property consultants Gleeds, commercial agents Gleeds, developers Miller Birch, commercial property agents Innes England and Maber Architects.

Team Nottingham aims to demonstrate that the city is the best place for investors to put their money.

And they say Southside could become an impressive 1.07 million square foot business district that would bring together major schemes in the area that are under development or in the planning stages.

Nottingham's public and private sector will promote the combined Southside district in the hope of bringing investors to the city.

It is planning an Invest in Nottingham event in London on April 14 which will be followed by an Invest in Nottingham Day at the end of May, when investors will be shown opportunities in the city.

Stuart Senior, managing partner of Gleeds Nottingham, said: "We are very keen to be involved in showcasing the benefits of our region to developers on the global stage.

"We have attended MIPIM since it first began and it is a very important showcase when it comes to reaching the most influential investors in the world and, with Southside, we have something worth shouting about."

The city council's workplace strategy and property director Geoffrey Hibbert, said: ""Nottingham's ability to successfully deliver projects, to capture economic growth and to support innovation, underpins the city's confidence and ambition for the business district on the Southside."

The city council will be trying to generate interest in six offices it is vacating in its move to Loxley House.

They include the purpose-built Guildhall, municipal offices which were built in the 1880s.

The authority is also disposing of its offices in Exchange Buildings, Severns House, Lawrence House, the Sandfield Centre and Isabella Street.

Potential investors will have to prove they have the city's best interests at heart before getting the keys.

Mr Hibbert added: "Tempting though it might be to look just at the bottom line and take the best price on offer, Nottingham has a disposal strategy that allows broader opportunities for the city's economy."

Source:www.thisisbusiness-eastmidlands.co.uk|

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