Midlands regions join forces to showcase billions-of-pounds’ worth of investment opportunities
Published: Thursday 30 Jan 2020
More than 85 private and public sector organisations from across the Midlands will showcase billions-of-pounds' worth of investment opportunities, as part of the Midlands UK delegation at MIPIM 2020 (Cannes, 10-13 March).
The Midlands UK delegation, which is supported by Midlands Engine and Department for International Trade, will highlight the West Midlands' top schemes to global investors at MIPIM, the world's leading real estate show. Key projects include:
- Dudley Council's rapidly growing DY5 Enterprise Zone, in the heart of the Black Country, and regeneration projects in Brierley Hill and Lye town centres
- Shropshire Council's Shrewsbury Big Town Plan, which includes the regeneration of the former Ironbridge Power Station a scheme that is set to deliver 1,000 homes, 20 hectares of employment land and Oswestry Gateway, which composes an 18 hectare employment site and an adjacent development site, providing up to 900 homes
- Telford & Wrekin Council's latest phase of its Town Centre Growth Programme, Station Quarter, which will provide investment opportunities to create new living and working space for businesses in the digi-tech and research and development sectors for office-based companies
- The City of Wolverhampton's Western Extension to its award-winning business park i54, which is set to create an additional 1,700 jobs and up to £300 million of private investment.
The Midlands UK stand at last year's MIPIM event
Deborah Cadman OBE, Chief Executive of the West Midlands Combined Authority said:
The West Midlands is taking an extremely strong portfolio of investment opportunities to MIPIM, reflecting the region's vibrant and fast-growing economy.
We are the UK's growth capital and to continue this success requires us to meet the ever rising demand for new places to work, live and meet.
Many of the schemes we're bringing to MIPIM will depend on the private sector to come to fruition. It is key for us to have a presence at the show, so we can help to deliver the new infrastructure, homes, offices and recreational spaces that the West Midlands needs
Sir John Peace, Chairman of Midlands Engine, added:
The Midlands is open for business and MIPIM is the best place to tell the world about it. The region's outstanding infrastructure, connectivity and talent pool of more than 11 million people makes it the perfect investment destination.
The reason we attend MIPIM each year is simple: it brings investment into the Midlands which in turn creates regeneration, infrastructure, jobs and money for the public purse.
All of these factors add to a strong UK economy, which ultimately enhances prosperity and quality of life for the people who live and work in the Midlands
Some 70 private sector partners will also join the cohort with partners such as Lendlease, Birmingham Airport, St Joseph and Cassidy Group attending the event. Others include Gleeds, Harworth Group plc and Extra MSA Group.
Cassidy Group will be unveiling a range of UK residential projects with values from £10 million - £100 million. The Group's portfolio contains projects from eight different cities across the UK with a focus on student accommodation, private rental schemes (PRS) / build to rent (BTR) sector.
The Coventry-based Group has a UK-wide footprint with many projects situated in the Midlands. This year, Cassidy Group will be highlighting various projects including the £48 million PRS scheme Arkwright Street, which is located in Nottingham and will create 320 new residential units.
Arkwright Street is situated in a prime location close to Nottingham train station in the city centre and is adjacent to the new HMRC regional Headquarters, which opens in late 2021 with 4400 new employees.
Furthermore, the Group will showcase its £42 million Albany Road student accommodation scheme based in Coventry. The project will create 436 new student beds in Earlsdon, which is a prime location for students.
The new beds will be the first major Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Earlsdon and will help to meet the increasing requirements at both Warwick and Coventry Universities for PBSA.
Patric Cassidy, Director of Cassidy Group, said:
Joining the Midlands' public and private sector organisations at MIPIM enables us to have important conversations with key players and network with global investors to bring home fresh investment for not only Cassidy Group but also the whole region.
We have a substantial development portfolio that is valued at £1 billion, including plans for more than 7,000 student beds and over 2,000 PRS / BTR units. We look forward to meeting with potential investment funds to discuss our exciting projects further
MIPIM provides the delegation with access to more than 26,000 delegates ranging from potential investors, partners, clients, suppliers and global property media. During the four-day show, there will be an action-packed event programme full of presentations, panels and showcases at the Midlands UK Pavilion (C16.D).