COMMENT London remains the most attractive city in the world to invest. Why? Because of its people, diversity and dynamism. More than £20bn in cross-border investment pours into London annually, enabling it to top the world’s league tables.
The capital’s champion, Opportunity London, is now on the global roadshow, seeking the next wave of institutional capital and showcasing our prospectus of multi-billion pound opportunities.
The pipeline has been developed with London’s public sector and industry leaders – all laser-focused on six key asset classes to drive our capital forward for generations to come. We are focused on six Ls for London: low-carbon real estate, logistics and light industrial, life sciences and the knowledge economy, living, leisure and learning. We are a city bursting with opportunity that now has a dedicated front door to match investors with a pipeline of schemes.
A united voice
What excites me most about taking up the helm of Opportunity London is leading a united voice for our great capital city with our growing cohort of London partners. We have created a pipeline of opportunities that will contribute towards a low-carbon, equitable and liveable city – shared ambitions for us all.
What is abundantly clear from the billions of pounds seeking to be deployed in London, however, is that global capital has a choice and we mustn’t take our position for granted. Our established industries such as financial and professional services, along with growth sectors in technology and science, make London a global leader for talent and innovation, and our universities are some of the best in the world. We are already the greenest capital city in Europe and a $1tn (£800bn) economy. However, we must not be complacent.
London’s fundamentals, together with our high levels of liquidity and transparency, continuously make our metropolis one of the most sought-after destinations for global capital. Our generous relative pricing, and a track record of strong price and rental growth returns is only strengthened by today’s currency advantage on sterling versus the dollar. Our priority at Opportunity London is directing this appetite to invest towards the areas of our city that need it most across low-carbon real estate, regeneration, infrastructure, and energy.
A city transformed
Inward investment has transformed our city over the past two decades, from the new Elizabeth Line to the Olympic Park, from King’s Cross to the City cluster, Canary Wharf to Wembley Park, and Battersea Power Station to Old Oak Common and Barking Riverside. The list goes on, and so do the opportunities for further investment.
Guiding hand
In energy we need new green infrastructure, EV charging and a huge retrofitting agenda to bring buildings up to modern standards of environmental performance. In real estate there are opportunities across the mix, from housing to life sciences, logistics to film and media production. And we must continue to develop the city’s transport infrastructure, digital communications and waste management.
At Opportunity London our job is to guide global capital in a unique partnership that brings civic and business leaders together to showcase where investment opportunities exist, right across London.
London remains the best place in the world to invest and Opportunity London will guide you every step of the way.
Jace Tyrrell is chief executive at Opportunity London
