Press Release

EMBARGOED to 0001 Thursday, October 18
‘One Voice’ as leaders promote region on the MIPIM world stage

THE most prestigious developments in the Leeds City Region are to be showcased at one of the world’s biggest property conferences next year.

A delegation led by Leeds and Partners will take landmark projects such as the Leeds Arena, Trinity Leeds and the redevelopment of Wakefield’s historic Civic Quarter to MIPIM 2013, a global property conference with 25,000 delegates and more than 4,000 investors from 83 countries.

The Leeds and Wakefield City Councils will also be well supported by the business community with five private sector sponsors already secured, including the Leeds-based property investment and development company Town Centre Securities, global engineering consultancy Arup, the Eastgate quarters developer, Hammerson, Land Securities the developer of Trinity Leeds and GVA, the leading UK property management and professional services consultancy.

Leeds and Partners Chief Executive Lurene Joseph said she was delighted with the level of interest shown to date, adding talks were underway with more firms keen to take advantage of a “great opportunity to do business”.

“Leeds and the wider region is going to be the place to do business in 2013 – landmark projects like Trinity Leeds and the Arena will drive the economy forward – but we have to take that message on to the world stage with one voice and make this city the global player it should be,” she said.

“At MIPIM 2013 developers from across the world will be looking for the best places to invest, our clear message to them will be to look no further than Leeds, where we have the skills, the resources, the prestige and the drive to make it happen.”

Next year some of the country’s biggest developments will be in Leeds, with the opening of the £350 million Trinity Leeds shopping centre on March 21 and the first acts performing at the £60 million Leeds Arena when it opens in September.

Work is also expected to get underway during the summer on KPMG’s new Leeds headquarters in Sovereign Street, the iconic development of Eastgate Quarter which will include the flagship John Lewis store – the biggest in the north, as well as the continuing progress of the Aire Valley Leeds Enterprise Zone.

Peter Box, chair of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership leaders’ board and leader of Wakefield Council, said: “MIPIM is a fantastic platform to put Wakefield, Leeds and the wider city region on the world stage as the place to invest in 2013.

“We have developed the right conditions for investors to create jobs and grow the economy here and we’re taking that message forward.”

Councillor Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council’s executive member for development and the economy, said: “Leeds is challenging very difficult economic times by actively forging forward to the future. I believe we are at the forefront of providing the best possible environment for businesses and new developments to flourish and welcome the opportunity to demonstrate this at MIPIM.

“Our city is already one of the best places to do business and we believe that over the next couple of years Leeds will be firmly cementing that reputation with major developments such as Leeds Arena, Trinity Leeds and the Eastgate scheme.”

Edward Ziff, Chairman and Chief Executive at Town Centre Securities, said: “For us MIPIM is an unrivalled opportunity for major players in the property market to come together and do business.

“We’ve invested a huge amount in Leeds, including the New Front redevelopment of the Merrion centre, because, while already a major economy in its own right, the city has great potential to grow considerably larger.

“At MIPIM we aim to not only promote that message, but do some serious business going forward.”

The representatives from Leeds and Wakefield will also be seeking to forge closer links with other major UK cities including London, Manchester and Birmingham to promote the “open for business” message.

MIPIM is held in Cannes and runs from March 12-15.
Wakefield Council will be joining the delegation as the city’s own development continues apace.

The city will be promoting major projects and investment opportunities including redevelopment of Wakefield Kirkgate and the city's Civic Quarter.

Ms Joseph announced the first members of the MIPIM delegation as the city’s property community came together at Unfold 2012, the Leeds property conference which opened today (Thursday October 18).

-Ends-

* The Leeds Arena is expected to attract around 1 million extra visitors a year to the city, creating 330 jobs and bringing in around £25 million a year.

** Trinity Leeds opens on March 21. Designed by internationally renowned British architects Chapman Taylor, it is set to become one of the UK’s biggest retail beacons with a forecast footfall of 23 million visitors in its first year.

***Unfold is the Leeds City Region’s only commercial property show and promotes key developments to occupiers, investors, agents and developers

Notes to Editor
1. Contacts for further information
Tom Palmer
Head of Media
M: 07583 029638
DL: 0113 378 1173
thomas.palmer@leedsandpartners.com

2. Leeds and Partners
Leeds and Partners works to raise the profile of Leeds on the national and international stage, promoting the city as a key destination for inward investment, business and leisure tourism. The organisation works with key private and public sector partners to attract new investment and drive economic growth – helping to create and sustain jobs and employment opportunities in the region.
For corporate and consumer information see www.leedsandpartners.com