Sheffield City Region hails successful MIPIM

Housing developments, city regeneration and collaboration within the Northern Powerhouse were among the topics of discussion on the third and final day of MIPIM 2018.

In the UK Government pavilion, Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) vice chair Nigel Brewster joined a panel of experts from across the Northern Powerhouse to discuss issues including talent retention, city connectivity, and how regions across the North can use their individual strengths for successful collaboration.

Alongside Brewster on the panel were Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council; Steven Wild, CEO of Media City; Sir Michael Lyons, chairman of the English Cities Fund; Lynda Shillaw, chief executive for property at MAG; and Jessica Bowles, director of strategy at Bruntwood.

Planning and development officers at Rotherham Council discussed the large housing site at Bassingthorpe.

Paul Woodcock, assistant director for planning, regeneration and transport at Rotherham Council, said: “The company contacted us after Homes England had provided them with details of the tremendous opportunities available at Bassingthorpe.

“That’s why it’s great to be out here at MIPIM. These sorts of conversations happen here, and chance meetings lead to real, tangible opportunities for the borough.”

Meanwhile, at a breakfast session hosted at the Sheffield City Region HQ, building and design consultancy Trebbi held a panel discussion with the theme “To Build or Not to Build.” Discussion points included the drivers for deliverability and viability in the current housing market; how the planning system might drive land value, and the role public and private sectors might have in providing subsidised infrastructure.

This was followed by a housing panel event chaired by Mark Lynam, director of programme commissioning at Sheffield City Region and with speakers including Iain Thompson, associate director for partnerships and communications at Harworth Group; Scott Cardwell, assistant director of development at Doncaster Council and Damien Wilson, strategic director of regeneration and environment at Rotherham Council.

The session focused on the city region’s plans to deliver Sheffield City Region’s ambitious housing growth programme, with plans for 55,000 homes across 285 sites.

Dan Ladbury, director of estates at Sheffield Hallam University, led a session showcasing the £300m Sheffield City Gateway scheme, which aims to reshape the city for the 21st century and beyond.

The plans incorporate commercial, retail, and academic space including a hotel and public square, plus a new location for Sheffield Business School and Sheffield Hallam University social sciences complex. It aims to transform the southern entrance to the city centre and create an iconic addition to the Sheffield city skyline.

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