Event Summary
MIPIM | ‘Great North’ ready to explode as UK’s economic driver
From data centres in Blackpool to space centres in Newcastle, a panel of Northern leaders set out their investment propositions on the global stage and discussed how the North can work together to make them a reality.
From left: Stockport Council’s Michael Cullen; Liverpool City Council’s Cllr Liam Robinson; Manchester City Council’s Cllr Bev Craig; Blackpool Council’s Cllr Lynn Williams; Bolton Council’s Jon Dyson; Newcastle City Council’s Pam Smith
Pitching for investment on the UK Stage, council leaders, chief executives, and directors of place drew back the curtain on their regeneration pipelines and declared themselves open for business.
Liverpool Leader Cllr Liam Robinson kicked off the Dragons Den-style session by outlining opportunities for a £2.5bn regeneration around Liverpool Central station and the opportunity to play a part in the creation of a new town in the north of the city.
Next up was Blackpool Council Leader Lynn Williams, who outlined how the public and private sector have worked together to change perceptions of the town and drive growth.
A huge opportunity around a data centre cluster branded Silicon Sands and a £300m leisure scheme in the centre of the town were the two major projects Williams put to assembled property professionals.
Michael Cullen, chief executive of Stockport Council pointed to the town’s regeneration momentum, can-do attitude, and partnership approach as reasons investors should look at deploying capital.
The next big thing in Stockport is the 260-acre Town Centre East, part of the council’s plan to make Stockport the most liveable place in the country.
In Bolton, the jewel in the council’s regeneration crown is Crompton Place shopping centre, according to director of place Jon Dyson.
The council has done the hard work getting the site ready for development and Dyson set out a clear ask of the investment community – to come transform the site and, as a result, the fortunes of the town.
Pam Smith, chief executive of Newcastle City Council, took attendees from “Toon to the moon” with talk of plans to create a space centre in the city, part of a £6.7bn pipeline of investment.
She also made clear the type of developers and investors Newcastle wants working in the city.
Smith said: “If you are an innovative developer with ambition, with a clear vision of what future development can look like, then you can come to Newcastle. But if not, then other places are available.”
Last to take to the lectern to pitch her city’s wares was Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council.
She ran through an enviable list of transformational projects, including the £4.5bn Victoria North and Sister, a 2m sq ft innovation campus.
Craig also stated her satisfaction at hearing about the various game-changing projects pitched on the stage, saying it signals the North’s collective ambition.
“What you’ve seen here today shows a real alignment across the North of England,” she said.
“Things really have changed in terms of our economy, you wouldn’t have seen this 10 years ago, where right across the North you’d be faced really exciting opportunities to come to invest and to be part of one of the fastest growing economies in the world.”
Smith agreed that the future for the North’s town’s and cities is as bright as they themselves want it to be.
“[We need to be] part of the Great North brand and take that out to the world and saying, ‘here, collectively, is what we have to offer,’ and be very specific that we have different strengths.”
