Northern cities to present united front on French Riviera

LEADING CITIES of the North of England will present a united front to foreign investors at the world’s biggest real estate convention taking place on the French Riviera.
LEP Chair Roger MarshLEP Chair Roger Marsh
LEP Chair Roger Marsh

Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool and Newcastle will try to win backing for the Northern Powerhouse concept at MIPIM 2015 next month.

The Government has been pushing the idea of greater connections between northern cities to help rebalance the UK economy away from London.

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MIPIM gathers leading international property players for four days of networking, learning and deal-making in the upmarket French resort of Cannes.

Representatives from the Leeds City Region say they will be promoting six large-scale investment ready opportunities, including the South Bank of Leeds, which has been described as the largest city centre development opportunity in Europe.

The others are expected to include York Central, a 40-hectare development site close to the railway station, Bradford city centre and residential property schemes.

Leeds City Region will partner with Sheffield City Region to promote investment opportunities around HS2, the high-speed train link between London and the North, and the devolution of powers from Whitehall to the regions.

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James Newman, chairman of Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “In such a highly competitive market place, working together and having a connected ambition can only strengthen our proposition.”

Roger Marsh, chairman of Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, added: “We are in a strong position to demonstrate to potential investors the scale and diversity of the opportunities which exist here.”

Private sector backers for the delegation include engineering consultants Arup and GVA, investors and developers Commercial Estates Group and Town Centre Securities and lawyers Shulmans and Barton Legal.