MIPIM Cannes on the Horizon for Lisburn Castlereagh

Showcasing £400 million worth of potential investment opportunities in Lisburn Castlereagh, the Council will be meeting with prospective investors and developers to discuss these locations that can cater for retail, housing, manufacturing, hotel or office requirements.

MIPIM Cannes will be attended by 26,000 from over 100 countries.  It is the premier real estate event and offers four days of networking, learning and transaction through premium events, conferences and dedicated exhibition zones.

David Burns, Chief Executive of the Council speaking about MIPIM said: “Lisburn Castlereagh has experienced fantastic growth in local business and tourism in recent years.  This is in part due to our ideal location giving the perfect all-island base with easy access to Great Britain and EU markets and our support for local developers, businesses and tourist attractions.  Lisburn Castlereagh is a cost-effective and business-friendly location and we look forward to working with investors to grow our retail and leisure offering alongside new hotel developments, bars and restaurants to cater for the increased demand for overnight stays and trips.

“Our hotel sector is developing and we hope to see more open up in the Lisburn area, spearheaded by the investment of £20 million by Historic Royal Palaces which is anticipated to bring 200,000 additional visitors to the transformed Hillsborough Castle and Gardens each year.  When at MIPIM we have meetings scheduled with prospective investors, developers and businesses who are influential players as part of our commitment to grow the local economy through investment; and will proudly show them the vast opportunities Lisburn Castlereagh can offer them when considering a new base of operations.”

Laura McCorry, Head of Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, speaking about local tourism said: “Historic Royal Palaces has invested significantly in Hillsborough Castle and Gardens to allow everyone to enjoy this historic site within Lisburn Castlereagh.  We are looking forward to opening our doors in April 2019, kick starting what promises to be a busy year ahead, filled with events and activities appealing to a wide and varied domestic and international audience. We welcome a growth in the number of hotel and accommodation providers in the local area, which would enhance the existing offer to both visitors and residents alike.

Alderman William Leathem, Chairman of the Council’s Development Committee added: “The Council is always keen to work with developers to secure investment in our economy as part of its Economic Development Strategy.  The location of our area is key to the success of the many businesses already based here and we offer one of the lowest commercial rates of all local councils. 

“At MIPIM our Investment Team will also be profiling the Belfast Region City Deal alongside our partner five councils. This is a significant commitment of £850 million from Westminster, central and local government funding to grow the NI economy over the next number of years.  One of our projects is an investment in Hillsborough of £26 million, in line with the Council’s agreed Tourism Strategy, designed to link the key heritage sites of the village and provide an enjoyable environment for everyone visiting and living in this unique village.  These works will build upon planned investments at Hillsborough Castle to create a really world class heritage attraction.”

If you would like to meet with one of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council’s Investment Team at MIPIM on stand C19.D please email: hazel.king@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk