Lancashire as an international investment destination has been at the heart of its pitch to developers and property agents at the MIPIM property and investment exhibition in Cannes.
Lancashire was one of the regions showcased by the Department of International Trade (DIT) as part of its Northern Powerhouse promotion campaign.
Being part of the DIT’s wider UK trade mission, Lancashire representatives updated the government’s Minister for International Trade Graham Stuart on progress on recent projects and investment opportunities.
With an estimated attendance of over 24,000 delegates across four days (March 13 – 16), the county’s team highlighted key investment hotspots.
These included:
- Central Lancashire – an emerging ‘investment corridor’ for new homes, offices, leisure and retail developments which takes in Preston, South Ribble and Chorley, and is underpinned by the £434m City Deal programme.
- The City of Lancaster – which is currently enjoying a boom across a number of sectors, including energy and digital health, and will be soon be home to Lancaster University’s £41m Health Innovation Campus (HIC).
- Lancashire Central – a 65-hectare investment zone located in Cureden which is set to be transformed into a hub of business premises, retailers, new homes and amenities, anchored by a new IKEA.
- Burnley Knowledge Quarter & Vision Park – an initiative which seeks to capitalise on Burnley’s entrepreneurial spirit and rich tradition of innovation through the creation of new business space adjacent to local college and university campuses.
- Samlesbury Enterprise Zone – which is part of the county’s wider Advanced Manufacturing and Energy EZ Cluster, home to BAE systems, and currently being considered as a site for a new North West Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in partnership with the world-leading AMRC in Sheffield.
- University of Central Lancashire – whose £200m Masterplan is set to be a catalyst for regeneration. Key projects in the Masterplan include the £60 million Student Centre and the £32 million Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC).
The Lancashire delegation was led by David Taylor, Deputy Chair of the LEP and Chair of The University of Central Lancashire Board.
David Taylor said: “The name of Lancashire, and its key role within the Northern Powerhouse, is increasingly getting recognition internationally. That’s why events like MIPIM are so important, as it gives investors the chance to talk to the people who live and breathe the region, and can communicate the Lancashire’ offer with knowledge, passion and pride.
“This, combined with support from partners like the DIT and government ministers such as Graham Stuart, helps us to keep Lancashire front of mind when developers, employers and property agents are considering a Northern UK base.”
