In Focus: We’ve only just begun
Bar takings are down this week in the East Midlands. Why? No, I’m not on the wagon, but a group of the movers and shakers from the local commercial property scene are holed up at MIPIM in Cannes cutting deals and taking advantage of the countless free buffets along La Croisette.
There’s much gum sucking that goes on about how much these supposed jollies are costing the taxpayer, and I think it’s been fair to say, that a lot of public money has been spent in Cannes over the last decade. But, as the old saying goes: if you don’t ask, you don’t get.
This year, the local authorities have either pulled out altogether, or have been more canny. Marketing Derby is part funded by its bondholders, and so it escapes most of the pressure when it comes to spending money. Prospect Leicestershire has sent just two representatives at a fraction of the price the county usually spends, whilst Nottingham City and Lincolnshire County councils have pulled out altogether, and have relied on a team of local business leaders to fly the flag for their respective counties.
Fair play to them, and a glance at Tim Garratt’s ever-excellent blog will show you that, despite it being quieter at MIPIM this year, the fact that businesses like Innes England are there means a lot to the East Midlands.
And deals have been announced. Not the big, barnstorming deals of the yesteryear (many of which never came to fruition anyway, it’s worth remembering), but Derby has named the developer on its £100m Castleward Urban Village development that is set to start on site around this time next year.
Adam Wilkinson, head honcho of the city council was out in Cannes to tell everyone about it, and breathed a sigh of relief when he said: “I was delighted to reveal details of the Castleward Urban Village regeneration scheme at MIPIM. This is a hugely significant and ambitious development for the city which will kick-start further investment into Derby and is the result of five years of hard work by the city council and its partners.”
Meanwhile, who’s that sneaking in the back door? Why, if it isn’t Nottingham’s, new, much sought-after permanent corporate director for development, David Bishop, who has given up sunny Bristol to welcome the brave new world of the East Midlands.
Bishop might not take up his new role until May, but the news will make waves. Nottingham City Council desperately needed a high profile appointment to this problem role, and it seems they’ve done the business.
Shame there wasn’t much of a fanfare made of it at MIPIM, but then I guess it’s not the job of the self-appointed ‘Team Nottingham’ to take on the absent city council’s role. Here’s hoping Bishop can take the bull by the horns and really push forward what a great offer Nottingham has, but which has been stifled by a lack of continuity within the council.
Pub landlords might well be praying for the weekend, then, as our boys and girls return from Cannes and get busy sorting through those businesses cards they’ve picked up. For them, like Bishop, the real work starts now.
