AN impressive array of speakers is being assembled for this year’s Develop Croydon conference – including Jules Pipe, Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills, Sir David Higgins, Chairman, Gatwick Airport and Crystal Palace Football Club Chairman Steve Parish.
Chaired by BBC Home Editor, Mark Easton, the ninth annual conference, titled ‘Generation Croydon’, will be held at the Croydon Park Hotel on Tuesday, 20 November.
The speakers will be debating how the town’s regeneration can meet the demands of London’s largest youth population, while also making sure it is ready to cater for a community where one in eight people are now over the age of 65.
Cllr Tony Newman, Leader, London Borough of Croydon, will open the event discussing his plans for the borough, as he takes office for the second time, and the many developments that are in the pipeline as the Council looks to ensure the town is suitable for all.
Croydon’s cultural offer will be discussed and how this can appeal to all ages with speakers including Michael Purefoy, R&F Properties, Neil Chandler, Fairfield Halls, Kathryn Morley, OnSide Youth Zones, and Steve Parish, Crystal Palace Football Club on the opening panel – Croydon’s Next Generation, sponsored by R&F Properties.
Sir David Higgins, Chairman, Gatwick Airport will then be delivering a keynote address to discuss the airport’s future after it launched its draft master plan 2018 and what its impact could be on the Croydon economy.
Infrastructure is essential in the success of the town and with Network Rail announcing plans for major upgrades to the Brighton Main Line and East Croydon station, it is central to Croydon’s ongoing regeneration plans. Speakers will discuss the importance of this change, with experts including Steve Peggs, Network Rail, Jonathan Sharrock, Coast to Capital, Tamsie Thomson, London Festival of Architecture, Shifa Mustafa, London Borough of Croydon and Craig Marks, Menta.
Retail is still at the forefront of Croydon’s regeneration and with the increase in online shopping the Bricks and Clicks panel, sponsored by The Croydon Partnership, will discuss how physical and online retail can work together to appeal to all generations, with speakers including Steve Yewman, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Carolyn Kenney, Hammerson, Eva Pascoe, The Retail Practice and Oliver Bycroft, Prologis.
During the lunch break, delegates will be able to take part in a guided tour of Fairfield Halls, gaining the inside track on the huge regeneration project transforming the site and the opportunities it offers. MICA, the architects delivering Croydon’s most exciting new events hub, are supporting the Conference and will be showing attendees around the site during two half hour tours at 12.50pm and 1.20pm.
With the population in the town continuing to grow, the Conference will restart after the lunch interval with a debate on how Croydon can provide suitable housing for first time buyers and retirees as well as family homes. Speakers include Cllr Paul Scott, London Borough of Croydon, Martin Brown, McCarthy and Stone, Bunmi Atta, Optivo, Irene Craik, Levitt Bernstein and Bill Dunster, ZEDfactory.
A session will then be held on Croydon’s commercial success and the adapting workplace demands, with speakers including Liz Hamson, Property Week, Neil Meredith, Schroders, Richard Morris, IWG plc, Adam Walker, CRATE, and Caroline Pontifex, KKS.
A youth summit will also be taking place in the afternoon, sponsored by Whitgift Foundation, with leaders in the industry taking part in discussions with young people from across the borough to discuss their thoughts of the town and what they want from it in the future, ensuring that not only are the industry heard within the debate but also the community they deliver for.
The full-day event will be concluded with a keynote speech by Jules Pipe, Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills and Chief Executive of Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, highlighting their ambitions for Croydon.
The Develop Croydon Conference Event Partners are Stanhope Schroders, representing the Ruskin Square development, and London Borough of Croydon. Associate sponsors include Croydon Partnership, London Gatwick Airport, Menta, MICA, R&F Properties, SHW, Sinclair Clark, Tide Construction and Willmott Dixon.
Croydon is continuing to undergo major regeneration and this Conference will highlight what needs to be done to ensure its success for future generations.
For more information and to book your ticket please visit www.developcroydonconference.co.uk
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