David Cameron called for investors to put housing and infrastructure at the centre of their plans on the second day of the northern powerhouse visit to Singapore.
The prime minister spoke ahead of a series of meetings between Singaporean investors and UK businesses on the latest leg of his tour of the Far East.
BNP Paribas Real Estate UK chief executive John Slade and Bill Hughes, Legal and General Investment Management’s head of real assets, attended the investor meetings. Regional developers Urban Splash and Scarborough Group were also among 60 businesses on the trip.
In his speech, Cameron said investors should “look at Britain in a new way, look again at the north of England”. And he added: “Look at housing opportunities, look at retail opportunities, look at investment opportunities. We want to rebalance our economy and we want Singapore investors to help us do that.”
Underscoring the importance the UK government is attaching to this unprecedented trade mission, business secretary Sajid Javid and energy secretary Amber Rudd are travelling with the prime minister. Ministers Anna Soubrey and Lord Francis Maude are also with the group.
Greater Manchester interim mayor Tony Lloyd invited investors to visit the city. “Manchester is renewing itself. We need investment in transport, leisure services, housing, offices and manufacturing. We are looking for partners who share our vision and ambition to help us move forward.”
Leeds city council leader Judith Blake said the city’s south bank area offered one of the most exciting opportunities in Europe, telling potential investors: “We have a range of opportunities in regeneration and in infrastructure.”
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Estates Gazette editor Damian Wild is among the business representatives travelling with the prime minister across the Far East. Follow @damianwild on Twitter for live updates from the trip.
