Mayor Steve Rotheram leads major Liverpool city region delegation to the MIPIM property expo in Cannes this week and will reveal details of his ‘biggest ever’ Investment Fund. Tony McDonough reports
Mayor Steve Rotheram will say ‘bonjour’ to international investors this week as he leads a major Liverpool city region delegation to the MIPIM property expo in Cannes, punting £11bn worth of investment opportunities.
And on Tuesday he will unveil what he says will be the city region’s “biggest ever” Investment Fund as part of his 10-year blueprint to grow the city region economy by £10bn.
Liverpool, and latterly the city region, has been attending MIPIM for around 30 years. This year a total of 30 companies and organisations will make the trip to the French Riviera – the biggest event delegation.
There has long been the suggestion that the annual pilgrimage to the Côte d’Azur is little more than jolly under the Mediterranean sun. But amid the filet mignon and Château Lafite there is a genuine opportunity for cities such as Liverpool.
In 2025 MIPIM (Le Marché International des Professionnels de L’immobilier), which takes place in the same building as the Cannes Film Festival, attracted 20,000 delegates from 90 countries.
Among the delegates were investors managing funds worth around £4 trillion. City regions such as Liverpool descend on the event each year in the hope of grabbing a slice of that wealth.
As well as the Investment Fund more exciting details will be revealed about plans for a new Mayoral Development Corporation to regeneration across Liverpool’s North Docks between the city centre and Everton FC’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
And details of “lucrative investor benefits” from the city region’s Investment Zone will be showcased at the three-day event.
“If we’re serious about creating good jobs, transforming the face of our area and building the homes our residents need, then we have to be in the room with investors, “ said Mr Rotheram.
“There’s renewed confidence and interest in our region. That’s why we’re heading to MIPIM, armed with £11bn worth of genuine, investible opportunities.”
Among the city region flagship projects being promoted at MIPIM are:
- Bootle Town Centre transformation.
- £1bn King Edward Triangle project.
- Littlewoods film and TV studios.
- 400,000 sq ft Pall Mall office scheme.
- Redevelopment of 40 acres around Liverpool Central Station.
- Liverpool Waters.
- Maghull Health Park.
- Paddington South, Knowledge Quarter Liverpool.
- Wirral Waters.
This year’s delegation is the result of collaboration between the six local authorities, the Combined Authority, and dozens of private sector companies, seven of which have signed up as gold partners for the investment programme.
They are Atkins Realis, Beetham Davos, Landsec, Langtree, Liverpool BID Company, Sciontec and Starship.
READ MORE: Could Combined Authority cash finally unlock Pall Mall?
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Cllr Liam Robinson, leader of Liverpool City Council and LCR Cabinet Member for Innovation, added: “Attracting investment into our city region is essential for the jobs and housing that we need for our future economic success.
“MIPIM puts us in front of the world’s biggest investors, and with our new masterplans, shared vision and incredible development opportunities we will be making a compelling case that now is an ideal time to invest in Liverpool city region.”