I’d heard so much about MIPIM but, until one sees it first-hand, its scale is hard to comprehend. However, the first two letters stand for “international market” and it certainly is that. From Saudi Arabia’s bonkers Neom plans to the more prosaic (“Invest Wallonia”, anyone), there’s something for everyone when it comes to property investment.
Above all, it’s really pleasing that Liverpool is now an international player. And there were lots of hugely positive developments:
- LCR’s AI ecosystem which is ready to go
- Devolution’s advantages
- Speeding up property development
- Seeing our Mayor in action
Whilst focus globally is on AI, what gives the LCR a boost is its status as a port city. AI requires energy – a lot of it – and the LCR has both the proximity to the water (be it tidal or turbine) and physical space on land for data centres. That makes the LCR a hugely attractive prospect.
The LCR is also benefitting from devolution. Following in the footsteps of Manchester, decisions are being made locally for the benefit of local people (without wanting to sound too Royston Vasey). And it’s clear that there is a genuine desire to collaborate – and compete with magnanimity – across the North.
Furthermore, Tuesday’s Planning and Infrastructure bill will get development moving. One of the barriers to successful public – private partnerships is the lack of capacity (i.e people) in planning departments in local authorities. Developers are keen to invest in the City Region but they want to see things happening more quickly than they have previously. And there has been an admission that planning departments should be facilitators rather than gatekeepers.
Finally, a word on our Mayor, Steve Rotherham. In the space of seven hours, I heard Steve Rotherham rally the troops, bringing together a number of those in the housing sector to discuss how to get things moving and then talk with real authority about Life Sciences. And, on a global scale, I witnessed how good a salesperson he is for our City Region.
In the cut-throat world of real estate, being confident – even being pushy – is needed. And Steve does it. But don’t take my word for it – a lady called Jackie Sadek from the Innovation Corridor said about Steve: “I wish we could bottle you up and sell you.”
Not a bad accolade!
