Jim Parker: We have a story to tell... with a happy ending of benefit to us all

I must admit that when the idea of developing a Torbay Story to sell and promote the English Riviera to the outside word and potential investors was first put to me I wasn't convinced.
It was the brainwave of Thinking Place, consultants brought in to find a way of packaging up what the Bay has to offer as a place - a very important word in all this - and encouraging people to show and have some pride in that beautiful place we are so lucky to call home.
The 'USP' of the each of our three towns was determined to encapsulate what we had to offer spanning our natural environment, hi-tech businesses and, of course, our food and drink and tourism offer. All neatly and colourfully presented in a Torbay Story book.
As chairman of the Torbay Leadership Board, I was honoured to join a delegation from Torbay to present the Torbay Story to a group of worldwide investors in what was once the swish London home of Nancy Astor, the country's first female MP.
Then we took the Story - and the book and some savoury fish and chips - to the UKREiiF conference in Leeds where the big boys of the local authority world woo some of the biggest investment names across the globe.
A story book and fish and chips? No chance? But the wheel was already turning in our favour at Westminster where ministers obviously liked what we were doing as a united |Bay and leadership board - as Team Torbay. Suddenly millions pounds have come our way via different government public funding pots.
But what about investment from the private sector? Cast your mind back to Nancy's former home. Among the guests over lunch that day was Stuart Harris, CEO for developer Milligan.
I came across Stuart again at a Town Hall press conference this week. It was called to reveal that a new public and private sector partnership has been set up to accelerate economic growth and regeneration in Torbay.
Stuart and Milligan and co-developers Willmott Dixon are those very partners in the deal worth many millions to the Bay and which will signal the dawn of a new era for the English Riviera.
The two partners will now help the council deliver major regeneration projects, firstly in our town centres and then more besides creating hundreds of new jobs.
Willmott Dixon is a privately-owned contracting and interior fit-out group. Founded in 1852, it is a £1bn business.
Milligan Ltd has over 20 years of mixed-use development expertise which powers its ability to transform challenged commercial places. It develops inspiring places in an environmentally sustainable way, providing lasting value for communities and investors. It has developed, asset-managed or partnered on properties valued at more than £5bn in destinations such as London, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Barcelona, and Bilbao and operated the retail and leisure at Camden Lock Market.
Huge players in the world of regeneration, now about to breathe new life into the English Riviera.
Stuart Harris remembered the lunch in London. He liked the united front and the cross-party unity.
He liked the Torbay Story. I for one no longer need convincing of its power.
Pictured: From left, Chris Wheeler, Regional Head of Land and Development, Willmott Dixon; Jim Parker, Chairman, Torbay Place Leadership Board; Cllr Chris Lewis, Deputy Leader, Torbay Council; Stuart Harris, CEO, Milligan; Cllr David Thomas, Leader, Torbay Council; Malcolm Coe, Director of Finance, Torbay Council; Anne-Marie Bond, Chief Executive, Torbay Council; Rob Woolcock, Director of Operations, Willmott Dixon.