Lancashire unveils plans for global property expo

Lancashire is to send it largest ever delegation to the MIPIM International global property and investment conference in Cannes, France.

The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership has announced details of its showcase, which will have a potential audience of 25,000 investors, developers, property agents and policy makers between March 12 and 15.

As in previous years, the Lancashire delegation will be part of Greater Manchester’s MIPIM Partnership. However, this year the Lancashire consortium has also booked an exclusive venue adjacent to the main MIPIM site where they will host a series of invitation-only events, meetings and networking opportunities.

This includes a VIP dinner which will feature a Lancashire-inspired menu prepared by Hipping Hall head chef and Masterchef the Professionals finalist Oli Martin. Further events will focus on construction and the Northern Powerhouse, a joint event with Cheshire & Warrington LEP to focus on maritime and waterfront economies, and concluding with a Lancashire Ambassadors’ brunch event.

Lancashire ambassador Andrew Flintoff will also attend, aiming to recruit more high-profile Lancastrians from within the property and investment sectors who will go on to act as champions for the region.

David Taylor, chair of the Lancashire LEP, said: "This will be our third visit to MIPIM International and once again we have aligned ourselves to our near neighbours Greater Manchester and the wider Northern Powerhouse initiative.

"We can also see the strategic benefits of working more closely with areas like Cheshire and Warrington where we have shared interests, such as maximising the commercial opportunities offered by the maritime sector on the North West coast.

"However, we also recognise that with the economic challenges and global competition facing many UK regions Lancashire needs to increase its visibility within the Powerhouse.

We also want to promote our distinctive character and undertake more direct engagement with potential investors and employers.

“We also want to promote our distinctive character and undertake more direct engagement with potential investors and employers.

"We have worked closely with Marketing Lancashire, commercial sponsors and other private and public sector partners to develop a programme of events which will allow more one-to-one discussions with key influencers and highlight the fantastic benefits Lancashire has to offer as an investment destination."

In addition to the off-site events Lancashire will be exhibiting within the Manchester Pavilion throughout the MIPIM International expo, highlighting a range of large-scale investment opportunities and major schemes already coming forward.

These will include the Preston and South Ribble City Deal, the county-wide Lancashire Advanced Manufacturing Energy Cluster (LAMEC), the proposed Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at Samlesbury, UCLan’s Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC) in Preston, Lancaster University’s Health Innovation Campus (HIC) and the proposals for Morecambe’s Eden North development.