Mayor showcases region's 'unique offer' to investors

INVESTMENT opportunities in the North East worth £14bn have been showcased at the UK's biggest property event.

- GRAEME WHITFIELD

North East mayor Kim McGuinness has used the UKREiiF conference in Leeds to launch the North East Investment Prospectus.

The prospectus outlines a portfolio of investment opportunities that could help create thousands of jobs in offshore energy, advanced manufacturing, creative industries, life sciences, digital, defence and space.

A total of 23 industrial, commercial and residential development sites are in the document, adding up to more than 18m sq ft.

The region's seven councils have worked with the North East Combined Authority and consultants Arup to identify the sites ahead of yesterday's launch of the North East Pavilion at UKREIIF.

The document also highlights the North East Investment Zone, where the combined authority is providing £160m to support private sector investment and create 4,000 jobs over the next decade.

Support for the document has come from business leaders, many of whom are joining the mayor and council leaders at UKREIIF.