The ‘how’ of Greater Manchester’s 75,000-homes target

A move away from engrained ways of working is required to deliver on the city region’s ambitious housing delivery targets, according to participants at a roundtable discussion hosted with Mansell Building Solutions at MIPIM.

Embracing new tech a ‘win-win’ amid dwindling skills, says framework boss

The construction industry is wary of an emerging skills gap, with an ageing talent pool and more workers leaving the industry than joining, the future of construction needs the industry to adapt and act now, according to Caroline Compton-James, deputy chief executive of SCAPE.

Themes from Cannes in 2025

As the dust settles on another MIPIM, here is a rundown of the themes that crept up time and time again throughout the week.

Gensler eyes Northern growth amid cities boom

A fundamental shift in what it means to be a city is prompting the global consultancy to consider the potential for a third UK office – in the North of England.

MIPIM THING OF THE WEEK

Socks, spice, and stadia are all featured in our Cannes special edition of our weekly column of property industry quirks, curios, and interesting tidbits.

Private sector reflects on MIPIM 2025

With the end of the convention in sight, Muse’s managing director, Phil Mayall, Tom Bloxham of Urban Splash, and igloo regeneration’s senior development manager, Insiyah Khushnood gave their final reflections on the big week.

VIDEO | The jewel in Bolton’s regeneration crown

Over the last few years Bolton Council has taken a more proactive approach to regeneration as it builds up to the town’s most transformational project – Crompton Place.

‘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.

Everton’s advice to Manchester United? Don’t deviate

Sports-led redevelopment has been a key theme of MIPIM, with both Liverpool and Manchester touting stadium projects at the conference.

Driving property delivery with a kit-of-parts approach

WSP’s head of digital innovation, Dale Sinclair, sat down with Place North‘s Sally Gibson at MIPIM to discuss how the company’s kit-of-parts approach is improving construction productivity and has the potential to streamline processes across the industry.

Parthena Reys open to more Manchester deals after city debut

The private equity firm acquired the 350,000 sq ft One Hardman Boulevard in Spinningfields in late 2023 and is setting about repositioning it into one of the city’s best office buildings while keeping one eye on more opportunities to invest.

Bolton and Wigan launch NorthFold growth corridor

Working with GMCA and developer partner Peel Land, the local authorities envisage delivery of 9,000 homes, 3.7m sq ft of industrial space, and 312,000 sq ft of offices by 2035.

VIDEO + GALLERY | Realistically delivering government housing targets

Positive steps taken towards reinvigorating housebuilding by the government nine months into its term are not to be sniffed at – but does the ambition match the reality on the ground? Place North’s MIPIM breakfast conference focused on this topic with a panel of private and public sector experts.

KQ Liverpool tees up investment opportunities

The 450-acre innovation district has revealed further plans and is seeking investment for the development of Health Innovation Liverpool, a £550m collaboration with NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, as well as its Artificial Intelligence Materials Hub for Innovation, or AIM-HI venture.

Planning for health in Northern cities

How can Northern cities be redesigned to improve the health of their inhabitants? In a wide-ranging discussion, Karen Kilgour, leader of Newcastle City Council, Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, Nuala Gallagher, corporate director of city development at Liverpool City Council, and Jonathon Seebacher, partner at Ryder Architecture and designer of Liverpool’s Green Lanes plan, discussed the challenges and opportunities.

Rail plan offers £7bn economic prize between North West cities

Having revealed plans for a new line connecting Liverpool and Manchester last year, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and his Liverpool City Region counterpart Steve Rotheram took the stage in Cannes to hammer home the impact the infrastructure project could have to assembled investors.

Five minutes with Landsec CEO Mark Allan

The UK’s biggest propco has piled into the North West in a big way in recent years, investing more than £1bn to acquire MediaCity, Mayfield, and Liverpool ONE. Place North West caught up with the firm’s chief executive, who was attending his first MIPIM since 2017.

VIDEO | Exploring the ‘how’ of delivering regeneration visions

Stronger partnerships, being willing to take more risks, and adopting off-site manufacturing at scale were all posited as ways the North can deliver better schemes at pace at a Place North panel session on the UK Stage at MIPIM.

How can the regeneration of Old Trafford transform the wider borough?

The international brand appeal of Manchester United FC and the emergence of development potential in the surrounding area make Old Trafford an extremely attractive regeneration prospect, according to Savills director Jeremy Hinds and Trafford Council Leader Tom Ross.

Leaders confident of securing land, funding for £2bn Old Trafford

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham reiterated that the club’s new home would receive zero public funding while Manchester United COO Collette Roche told Place North West she is sure the club can find the money to finance the 100,000-capacity project without state backing.

VIDEO | Wigan gears up for growth

Wigan Council has laid the foundations for large-scale development in its borough and now is the time to deliver, according to the council’s director of place Aidan Thatcher. Hear about the council’s ambitions and plans, and how the industry can get involved.

Leaders plant Northern flag in ground at MIPIM 2025

Local authority leaders and decision-makers held court on the Place North stand on Tuesday 11 March to set their stalls out for the week.

Homes England chief maps out vision for reaching 1.5m homes

Eamonn Boylan is hoping to restructure the way the organisation works from within and leave a lasting legacy that will provide a springboard for delivery when he vacates his post for the next permanent chief executive of the government’s housing and regeneration agency.

Newcastle hints at St James decision

Michelle Percy, director of investment and growth at Newcastle City Council, has given a strong indication of the direction owners PIF might opt for in the ongoing debate around the future of the club’s stadium.

Strangeways prison relocation still on the cards

Manchester City Council remains in “regular, active conversations” with the Labour government about the relocation of HMP Manchester to clear the site for wider redevelopment, and said that plans “would have to be amended if the prison does stay”, indicating progress has been made during talks.

Partners expand on King Edward tower vision

Beetham and TJ Morris vehicle KEIE want to bring Liverpool’s first five-star hotel to a tower topping 60 storeys, with architect SimpsonHaugh lined up to join the design team.

Northern leaders gather to discuss devolution and regeneration

How can the private sector make the most out of devolution and how is it shaping the future of the North’s towns and cities? On the day the government announced its Planning and Infrastructure Bill, long term planning, trust, and collaboration were highlighted by speakers from the North East, Greater Manchester, and Liverpool as key to a region’s success.

Peel Land, Muse confirmed for Salford regen group

Salford City Council has launched its strategic regeneration forum at MIPIM, with the pair of heavyweight developers the first delivery partners to sign up.

VIDEO | Data centres: opportunities & challenges for property

Society’s need to be connected and the rapid adoption of AI are driving the requirement for more and better digital infrastructure, including data centres, according to Thomas Pearson, partner at JMW.

GALLERY | Place North MIPIM 2025 Arrival Reception

Sponsored by Yardi, Place North’s MIPIM Arrival reception allowed a group of 200 property professionals the opportunity to get stuck in to some serious networking and set their stalls out for a busy week ahead.

Could London-style community ballots combat Northern NIMBYISM?

An innovate approach to resident engagement is making the process of delivering dense housing schemes in the capital smoother, but could it be rolled out and scaled up to break through planning barriers elsewhere?

VIDEO | How to make the most of Trafford’s threshold moment

The regeneration of Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium and the land around it presents arguably the biggest opportunity for transformation the borough has ever seen. The council and its partners discussed how to maximise the potential of that project and others in the pipeline.

Continuity is key to GM and Northern growth, says Manchester CEO

While still finding his feet in the top job at Manchester City Council, Tom Stannard heads to MIPIM today with no intention of deviating from a tried and tested formula for driving growth and attracting investment.

Collaboration, from green to grey, the Northern flex

At this year’s MIPIM, I expect to hear a great many conversations around the need for greater collaboration, new towns, planning issues and the move from Green Belt to Grey Belt, and most particularly, the inexorable rise of the North, writes Thomas Pearson of JMW.

Investment-ready Blackpool charts regen revival

Blackpool has come a long way in a short period of time and heads to the South of France with multi-million-pound investment opportunities to sell.

VIDEO | How SMEs can lead the charge for 1.5m new homes

Small and medium sized housebuilders are uniquely placed to play a starring role in addressing the UK’s housing crisis and contribute to the government’s ambitious homes target, according to Andrew Evans and John Wybar of VM Finance.

Place North’s MIPIM 2025 programme

Homes England chief executive Eamon Boylann, Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig, and developers including Peel Land, Muse, Igloo, and Urban Splash are among those confirmed to speak as part of Place North’s MIPIM programme.

Northern delegation supports biggest UK MIPIM showing in years

One hundred Place North delegates heading to Cannes in four weeks gathered for an inaugural preview dinner at hotel voco in Manchester.

Summary: How to do MIPIM well in 2025

Delegates heading to MIPIM for the first time this year were treated to a masterclass on what to expect and how to have a successful time in Cannes at an intimate Place North event.

Blackpool partners with Place North for MIPIM to highlight £2bn growth plan

The council will head to the international property expo as part of Place’s growing delegation ready to showcase major investment opportunities in the leisure and data centre sectors.

Peel Land on board for MIPIM 2025

The developer has become the latest organisation to join Place North’s growing delegation and will sponsor an intimate breakfast panel discussion at next year’s edition of the global property expo.

Bolton becomes part of Place North MIPIM delegation

The regeneration-focused council is attending the 2025 edition of the property expo to put the borough and its growing pipeline of projects on the global stage.

Investor-ready Trafford joins Place North MIPIM cohort

From large-scale housing projects to stadium-anchored regeneration schemes, the authority is heading to Cannes next March with plenty to shout about.

Place North teases MIPIM programme

With 30 companies and local authorities on board as partners, we have shared how Place North will lead the Northern charge at the global expo with two dynamic panel sessions at the event’s UK stage.

Morgan Sindall Construction on board as Place North MIPIM partner

One of the country’s most active contractors, Morgan Sindall Construction will be returning to the international property expo in 2025 as part of the growing Place North delegation.

Place North to host pre-MIPIM delegation dinner

Those signed up as Place partners for the 2025 edition of the international property expo will gather to share ideas and meet key decision makers from across the region a month before boarding the plane to Cannes.

Caddick Construction partners with Place North for MIPIM 2025

Joining Place North’s delegation in Cannes will allow the company to get direct access to the region’s industry decision-makers with the aim of gaining a deeper understanding of their priorities.

WSP partners with Place North for MIPIM

WSP has joined the Place North MIPIM delegation at its highest level as a prestige partner, which guarantees them a prominent place on the UK Pavilion stand, as well as invitations for prestigious, high-level networking events. Only two prestige partnership packages now remain.

DAY chooses Place for MIPIM

For a second year in a row, DAY Architectural is partnering with Place North to help maximise its time at the global property convention in 2025.

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