NOTTINGHAM must have a world class Robin Hood attraction to promote the city and county, according to a leading city surveyor.

Tim Garratt, a partner at Nottingham property consultants Innes England, told international property investors in Cannes: "Robin Hood belongs to Nottingham."

He was addressing an audience at MIPIM, the international property fair on the French Riviera, which attracts the world's top property investors.

"Ideally, we want to find someone who would like to construct a world class Robin Hood attraction," he said. "Robin Hood belongs in Nottingham – not by the side of a runway in Doncaster."

Mr Garratt is a member of Team Nottingham, a public-private sector delegation promoting the city to the property world from the 100ft motor yacht, Powder Monkey.

An audience of investors, developers, architects and engineers heard Mr Garratt deliver a clear message that Nottingham must make more of Robin Hood.

Mr Garratt is a member of the advisory group to the Sheriff's Commission chaired by city councillor Leon Unczur.

The commission was set up to find out how to maximize the impact of the legendary outlaw for the benefit of Nottingham's residents and visitors and to enhance its local, national and international reputation.

Mr Garratt said: "The Tales of Robin Hood on Maid Marian Way closed in 2009 after 20 years. It had probably reached the end of its economic life.

"A few people in Nottingham saw this as an opportunity, rather than a problem.

"The commission's mission to make full use of the brand equity held in Robin Hood will follow five core themes: social justice, green environmental heroics, romanticism, being part of a team and also courteous/ humorous."

Mr Garratt said the Sir Ridley Scott film about Robin Hood – a short excerpt from which was shown during the presentation – was a timely boost for Nottingham.

He said: "There has been much discussion about the location of a possible world-class attraction.

"There are sensitivities around the Castle, but an emerging view is that an attraction ought to be Castle-centric. The use of the grounds, Brewhouse Yard and Castle Road can all be brought into play."

The commission visited the USA with the Sheriff to investigate what makes a world-class attraction.

The findings formed the ultimate 'wish list'.

"The main lessons learnt from the expedition were that you have to think big, this should not be Disney, but rather, urban entertainment," said Mr Garratt. "You need lots of money, you should connect attractions in the city and county and the attraction has to be brilliant – good is not sufficient."

Nottingham is to have a Robin Hood month in May, involving a number of key activities, primarily planned around The Castle and Sherwood Forest.

The film will be launched during the month and Nottingham is still working to get a UK premiere showing.

Nottingham will have some of the props and artifacts from the film on display at the Castle and in Sherwood Forest.

The commission's long-term view is that Nottingham should have a world class visitor attraction in place by 2018. The real test will be to attract one million people a year.

Mr Garratt predicted a "large" impact on the local economy.