Property sector hopes to make splash in Cannes

YORKSHIRE'S property industry is today starting to make its way to the South of France to take part in MIPIM, the world's largest property conference.

The three-day event, which starts tomorrow in Cannes, will see development projects across the globe unveiled and will give property professionals the chance to meet, chat and build business relationships and look for investment opportunities.

Yet again, Yorkshire will have a strong presence at MIPIM, which is expected to attract 26,000 registered delegates and many more unregistered visitors.

Alex Munro, head of Knight Frank's Leeds office, believes that despite ongoing turbulence in global financial markets, the expected record attendance at MIPIM is a show of confidence in the commercial property sector.

Although a number of property agents and developers have told TheBusinessDesk.com that they are not returning to MIPIM this year because of the uncertain climate which has led to a tightening of company purse strings, Mr Munro said there was “a general feeling of optimism” in the sector.

Mr Munro said: “The mood from the UK is set to be a positive one, particularly from within the Yorkshire camp, which is in an unusually good position in comparison to other European cities, thanks to its location and current level of public and private investment.

“With this in mind, and the fact that Mipim is now recognised as much more of a pan European event with the UK element more diluted than 10 years ago, it will be particularly interesting to see how the rest of the European market has been effected by the economic climate – although a quick scan of the MIPIM programme does indicate that the outlook is good – with a number of spectacular landmark projects due to be revealed from Poland and Paris representatives alone.

“International investor participation is also predicted to swell this year, so it is no surprise that a major aim of MIPIM 2008 will be to closely address investors' needs with insights into future market trends.”

He added: “Despite the economic climate across the globe, it is clear that hundreds of funds, investors, developers and senior decision makers still recognise the value of attending the festival and are shunning the view of the cynics who may believe that MIPIM is an unnecessary exercise and wasted use of resources.”

Bradford Centre Regeneration, the body tasked with leading the regeneration of the West Yorkshire city, has once again secured an apartment on the Cannes sea front and will host a series of events aimed at boosting the profile of Bradford and promoting investment opportunities.

A record number of businesses have joined together to support Bradford's presence at MIPIM.

Returning for a third successive year, Bradford and its sponsorship partners are set to showcase the regeneration efforts being made in the Bradford district during the festival.

Twenty-five organisations have backed Bradford's presence, including 'gold' sponsors which include property advisers DTZ, property consultants Arup, Magellan, Robinson Design Group and developer Mi7.

BCR, which will be supported by leaders from Bradford Council and Bradford Chamber of Commerce at MIPIM, has also secured a number of high level speakers including environmentalist Bjorn Lomborg, outgoing Sheffield City Council chief executive Sir Bob Kerslake and design expert Wayne Hemingway.

Leeds is transferring its presence from sea to land and is swapping its traditional yacht for an apartment.

Location Leeds, the public-private sector partnership, said the city would have its biggest presence in Cannes on record this year when the city will give updates on ongoing projects in the city and unveil new schemes.

Leeds civic architect, John Thorp, will represent the city for the first time at MIPIM.

Mr Thorp will offer his take on the city's regeneration efforts and his drawings, which have been described as resembling flowers and propellers and represent the city's urban development, will be on display.

“The images are unusual in my profession, but not unusual for my work,” said Mr Thorp. “They are exploratory and take a new look at how a city works, how different areas have their own distinctive caharcter and how they work together.”

Sheffield will also be represented at MIPIM, and will again partner Leeds in the annual MIPIM quiz.

For those Yorkshire property professionals not travelling to Cannes, an alternative MIPIM event will be held in Leeds following the success of last year's inaugural event.

Hosted by David Parkin, Editor of TheBusinessDesk.com, the invitation only event is taking place tomorrow evening at 3 Albion Place in Leeds and is sponsored by Grant Thornton, King Sturge and Yorkshire Bank.

A lunchtime drinks event is also being held at The Waterhole in Leeds on Thursday.

TheBusinessDesk.com has teamed up with Bradford Centre Regeneration and Brahm to bring our users the latest news from MIPIM this week. Log on to read exclusive stories from the event and read our daily blog which will be posted at the bottom of our MIPIM coverage each day and will feature news and gossip from the festival.