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A splash of green for central Manchester
Ask Developments' Central Spine project has been rebranded as First Street Manchester. The £750m, 20-acre scheme includes the first major new pedestrianised thoroughfare in the city for decades. Other elements of the vision include new public squares, a new retail destination and a vertical garden filled with tropical plants and flowers. The area that the city intended to house the BBC will be reconfigured in a scheme that chief executive Ken Knott, speaking at MIPIM, described as "a district that will be a global exemplar - the Ramblas in Barcelona is the scale we're thinking on". It will host 20 new buildings and four new squares to what Manchester City Council's deputy chief executive Eamonn Boylan called a "new quarter for the city". Phase one, around the former BT Grand Island site, will be completed in 2009.
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Civic pride our greatest asset
Insider's investment forum event at MIPIM on Wednesday heard developer David Partridge from Argent claim that UK regional cities had the advantage over European and Asian competitors because they had an abundance of civic pride that drove their marketing efforts and encouraged their development plans. Partridge, whose business is developing King's Cross in London and is active in Birmingham, said Manchester had the edge. Professor Michael Parkinson, director of the European Institute for Urban Affairs, said the last ten years have been a boom time for UK cities, with Manchester and Bristol emerging as the strongest business locations, but predicted tough times ahead. Asked what else other cities - such as Leeds - could do to achieve what Manchester has, Partridge added: "Clone Sir Howard Bernstein", before lauding the chief executive of Manchester City Council as a strong civic leader. The event was sponsored by Cobbetts, Co-operative Bank, Drivers Jonas and Strategic Sites. 
Come together
Two of Manchester's most venerable firms of architects have used MIPIM to announce their merger. Fairhurst Design Group, founded in 1896, and Cruickshank & Seward, founded in 1923, will look to build on their shared experience in education and health. Tim Chapman of Fairhurst told Insider: "It's great news. Although we're strong on colleges and universities, we're looking to benefit from their experience in schools, as well as healthcare." The firm will trade as Fairhurst Design Group.
Liverpool to tackle city region challenge its own way
Liverpool's economic future depends on its ability to harness investment in the Wirral and Peel Holdings' planned £5m scheme in the north of the city centre. Speaking at the Liverpool stand, the city's executive director of regeneration, John Kelly, said: "Along with the continued development of the commercial district and growth of the universities, the most critical issue for the Liverpool city region is the extra economic capacity generated by the other boroughs, mostly the Wirral and Peel Holdings' plans." Council chief executive Colin Hilton added: "Certain cities are good at glossy brochures talking about the city region, but we're more interested in progress on the ground and we're achieving that."
Wirral's golfing dreams
Wirral Council announced at MIPIM that it is now seeking expressions of interest from appropriate investors and developers for a new golf resort in close proximity to Royal Liverpool Golf Club. The proposed site covers 333 acres and stretches across the Birket Valley to the East of Royal Liverpool. The development will include a signature golf course, featuring a private clubhouse and five-star hotel with restaurant, health and leisure facilities, conference facilities and deluxe spa.
Combie gets new marketing job
Rachel Combie is to switch from inward investment agency MIDAS, where she is head of marketing, to a new role as head of the strategic marketing unit for Manchester, chaired by Sir Howard Bernstein. The new venture will bring together a board comprising Nick Johnson and Andrew Stokes from Marketing Manchester, Colin Sinclair at MIDAS, Cityco and the airport, to take forward the Peter Saville brand work for the city region. Her new office will be in Marketing Manchester.
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Insider - the cerebral side of MIPIM
Insider was at MIPIM all week and hosted a major event on Wednesday, for over 150 registered delegates from across the UK, to discuss investment strategies in regional cities. We also hosted round table events for the following clients: Advantage West Midlands, Ask Developments, Bank of Ireland, Cobbetts, Co-operative Bank, Drivers Jonas, Last Cawthra Feather, Renew and Strategic Sites. We are producing a new publication covering investment and regeneration around the UK regions called the UK Property and Investment Report, which will include coverage of our week at MIPIM.
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Contact Us
Insider Weekly
8th Floor, Boulton House
17-21 Chorlton Street
Manchester
M1 3HY
Telephone: +44 (0)161 907 9711
Email:
insider@insiderweekly.co.uk
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