Manchester and Liverpool call for more transport powers as they showcase new schemes at Mipim
Local government leaders attending Mipim this week showcased a host of new developments outside of London while hailing what they described as an 鈥渦nstoppable鈥� drive towards devolution for the UK鈥檚 city regions.
Manchester city council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein and Liverpool鈥檚 elected mayor Joe Anderson both said that the transfer of power on offer from Westminster would lead to economic growth.
Bernstein told a 鈥渘orthern powerhouse鈥� event at the property fair in Cannes on Tuesday that the UK鈥檚 city regions had a lot to learn from their European neighbours, and that the devolution of transport powers would be crucial.
He added that 鈥渁 lot of big projects鈥� would be hitting the Manchester market in the coming months, including the redevelopment of Granada Studios and the city鈥檚 planned 鈥淭he Factory鈥� arts venue. Bernstein said: 鈥淭he key to agglomeration is better transport connections. Look at city regions in Germany, you see them performing better in terms of GVA [gross value added] and productivity.鈥�
Separately, the Airport City Manchester joint venture announced work would start this summer on a speculatively developed 75,000ft2 office scheme (pictured) at the enterprise zone.
The whole project aims to deliver 5 million ft2 of office, logistics, hotel, retail, and advanced manufacturing space next to Manchester airport over the next decade. Lynda Shillaw, chief executive officer for property at Manchester Airports Group, said pushing ahead with the new office building without an anchor tenant reflected 鈥渢he quality鈥� of the offer and the developers鈥� belief in 鈥渢he strength of the region鈥檚 economy鈥�.
On Wednesday, Birmingham city council unveiled proposals to redevelop a 14ha city fringe site centred around the Wholesale Markets area with a 鈥渇amily leisure quarter鈥� including 100,000m2 of new floorspace and 1,000 new homes. City council director of planning and regeneration Waheed Nazir said the project, known informally as 鈥淏irmingham Smithfield鈥�, would have a transformational impact.
鈥淚t will radically enhance the city鈥檚 retail, visitor and residential offer.鈥�
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