Birmingham MIPIM 2010


News Click on the titles below to read the latest news about Birmingham at MIPIM 2010 Birmingham confirms commitment to MIPIM - where big ideas that turn into big developments are born Vision of Paradise in Birmingham unveiled Global hotel chains eye up Birmingham for new sites Brummies on top! Backing Brum big style – Whitby praises MIPIM sponsors ? We built this city ? Rad Jag and cocktails for MIPIM winner Making Birmingham the irresistible choice Birmingham to have new university college campus Birmingham Science Park Aston chooses MIPIM to launch IT village on the world stage Whitby cautions Midland investors not to miss out on ‘Decade of Delivery’ Birmingham is on the move Here’s looking at you… world Birmingham Leader throws down the gauntlet to global property investors Birmingham Leader forecasts thousands of jobs in Decade of Delivery Birmingham confirms commitment to MIPIM - where big ideas that turn into big developments are born Peter Rhodes OBE, managing director of Reed MIDEM, with Coun Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council. Birmingham is committed to MIPIM as the place where ideas are born, the city council’s leader Coun Mike Whitby has stated. He said Birmingham was fully committed to MIPIM as a vital shop window for the £20 billion development programme that it is committed to undertaking in the next ten years – which Birmingham has deemed the “Decade of Delivery”. “If we want to be recognised as a global city, we have to front up to the competition and that means coming to MIPIM and fighting our corner for the investment that is out there. ”The credit crunch has meant that if there is less money available from our high street banks at home, we have to come out on to the world stage and make our pitch for investment from markets like the Middle East, China and India. “We have 20:20 vision on where we want to be in ten years time but we are not so arrogant that we think we have a monopoly on good ideas or all the answers on the investment front,” he said. “That’s why we like to come to MIPIM – this is like the Top Gun fighter pilot school – we need to be working with the ‘best of the best’. “And with the UK being designated Guest of Honour at MIPIM 2011, we are determined to position Birmingham at the heart of next year’s marketing and promotional efforts to ensure we extract maximum benefit. “Birmingham is at the heart of the UK on every level – location, transport, innovation and regeneration, and we want to make sure we tap into every possible investment opportunity both this year and next year. “We know that MIPIM is where ideas are born, they are developed, planned and funded in following years and in Birmingham’s case, delivered.” He met Reed MIDEM managing director Peter Rhodes OBE who said: “We recognise Birmingham’s importance as the largest metropolitan authority and Coun Whitby’s support for MIPIM is most welcome. “We work with our core cities and key clients to ensure that MIPIM delivers the results they are seeking so his words of encouragement are very supportive of our efforts. “We look forward to welcoming Birmingham and Coun Whitby back next when the UK takes centre stage as the ‘Guest of Honour’, he said. Vision of Paradise in Birmingham unveiled Gary Taylor addresses delegates at MIPIM in Cannes Delegates at MIPIM have had an exclusive insight into the rebirth of the eight-acre Paradise Circus site in Birmingham. Gary Taylor, chief executive of Argent, gave a running report on the current thinking behind his company’s plan to address the planning mistakes of the 1960s and 1970s that have blighted the long view from Centenary Square into the city centre for so long. In a low key presentation with architect Glenn Howells, which attracted a growing audience from passing delegates at the international property conference in Cannes, he mapped out how they planned to open up the site. “We believe this is the most important piece of real estate in Britain with the potential to bring this area back to life. “We are in an exclusivity agreement with the City Council with the view to giving the public realm back to the people.” He said that in planning terms the Paradise Circus was “pretty illegible” and with the Library of Birmingham moving in 2013 and a number of 25-year leases ending around that time, there was a once in a lifetime opportunity to do something special with a key city centre site. Glenn Howells said the Paradise Circus project represented a fantastic chance to create a project that would be woven into the wiring diagram of the Big City Plan – which is due for a major relaunch with detailed plans for Birmingham in July. He said it was important to respect the historic buildings in their setting – and demonstrated the pedigree of the site by using an 1851 map of the area. “This project is in no way defined at present but we are presenting what we believe is some very clear thinking on how we might take it forward. “The opportunity is there to complete the ring around the old Town Hall and frame views of the Council House. We want to create an environment that respects the setting and puts these historic listed buildings in their correct setting.” Gary Taylor concluded: “The prize is big enough and important enough to make it worth doing and we are proud to have been selected to take this project forward.” Global hotel chains eye up Birmingham for new sites Two global hotel chains are looking for at least three new sites for hotels in and around Birmingham, it has emerged at MIPIM, the global property conference being staged in Cannes this week. Hilton Hotels are understood to be in discussions over a new 150 bed hotel on the former HP Sauce site in Aston and another major operator is said to be keen on a site near Birmingham International Airport and the new High Speed rail station planned for that area. The same hotel group is also keen on a further city centre site to build on the success of its current hotel in Birmingham. City officials are keen to steer hotel executives in the direction of the Southern Gateway, the 150 acre area round the wholesale markets site. They believe that a prestigious brand could act as the cornerstone of future regeneration of the area and would be a magnet for other investors keen to develop in a strategically vital part of the city. This interest from some of the world’s top hotel brands means that Birmingham is bucking the trend at the start of what City Council leader Coun Mike Whitby has dubbed the “Decade of Delivery”. A survey by global law firm DLA Piper released last week showed that only two per cent of hotel industry leaders in the UK were predicting sustained upturn in 2010 and many did not expect any real recovery in room rates until after 2012. But the DLA Piper 2010 European Hospitality Outlook Report does reveal an unexpected upturn in new build activity, with 45 per cent of respondents predicting an upturn in new developments. Coun Whitby said: “We are starting to win more major events in Birmingham, such as party conferences and with our strengths as a leading European convention city through the ICC and the NEC, clearly we are becoming more attractive to hoteliers. “New developments such as High Speed Rail and the inward investment expected to be attracted to the city from events like MIPIM will be key factors in persuading global hotel chains that Birmingham is the place to invest.” Birmingham Leader forecasts thousands of jobs in Decade of Delivery Tens of thousands of jobs are set to be created in Birmingham over the next few years, alongside many already in the pipeline through projects like the redevelopment of New Street Station and the Library of Birmingham. The news comes in a series of announcements being made to delegates at MIPIM 2010, the global property conference in Cannes, from the Birmingham stand. Already in the public arena are the jobs that will be created by Birmingham Gateway – up to 10,000 by the redevelopment of New Street Station – and the Library of Birmingham which will bring 250 new job opportunities including at least 25 apprenticeships. And the three Legacy sites which were launched at MIPIM 2010 – Southern Gateway, Bordesley Park and Ladyport – are set to create tens of thousands of jobs over the next decade. Over the four day conference Birmingham City Council leader Coun Mike Whitby is announcing that supermarket giant ASDA is preparing to commit £100 million to the Birmingham area, creating 2,000 jobs, over the next ten years. Banking groups HSBC and Deutsche Bank, who already have significant presence in Birmingham, have stated their commitment to growing their back office services in the city with a total of a further 600 jobs. Deutsche Bank is creating 50 senior manager and director positions within its Birmingham operation. Coun Whitby will tell delegates: “We are already pushing hard to win as many of the Government department relocations, even in advance of the Smith Review, with at least 1,000 jobs coming to Birmingham and potentially many thousands more.” Other projects creating jobs around the city include plans for a 42,000 sq food store due to commence on site at the former Astra training complex which will create over 200 jobs. Redevelopment of the former HP Sauce site in Aston for warehousing and a hotel will create nearly 300 jobs. A new 55,000 sq ft Tesco store which has been recently completed on the Fox & Goose site is creating 210 jobs. Coun Whitby will say: “These do not include all the construction jobs that will be created as the local economy in Birmingham gathers speed again on projects like Paradise Circus, the Metro extension from Snow Hill to New Street, the runway extension at Birmingham International Airport, as well as on projects already under way like Birmingham Gateway and the Library of Birmingham. “Birmingham Gateway, the £620 million redevelopment of New Street Station, is expected to create over 10,000 new jobs. “The Birmingham story at MIPIM is that while, like every other leading city in the world, we have seen a slowdown in our development programme, the momentum we created in the first ten years of the 21st century will carry us forward into a Decade of Delivery across the city. “There are simply too many projects coming out of the ground and coming off the drawing boards to be denied and even the cynics are having to take their hats off to this vibrant city.” A spokesman for ASDA said: "Birmingham has attracted inward investment and development which has seen the centre change almost beyond recognition over the last decade. The City Council has also made areas outside the city centre a key investment priority and is encouraging developers to deliver regeneration and employment so the benefits of this great city can be enjoyed by all its residents. "ASDA is committed to working with this progressive council to help meet its objectives in these areas and bring high quality, affordable and sustainable retail to Birmingham’s local and district centres." Birmingham Leader throws down the gauntlet to global property investors The markets area of Birmingham (three views) plus impressions indicating the extent of the Southern Gateway and Ladyport sites. Big development areas need big ideas, Birmingham council leader Coun Mike Whitby told a global audience of investors and developers at the MIPIM 2010 property conference in Cannes today (Wednesday). And he challenged investors and developers from all corners of the world to visit Birmingham and join in a “Decade of Delivery”. In his speech opening the Birmingham stand at MIPIM 2010, he will unveil composite sites in the city that offer “acres and acres of opportunities” for developers and investors with three key strategic opportunities for global investors being launched at MIPIM 2010. The three areas total 385 acres of Birmingham that could bring in billions of pounds of investment into the city over the next decade and create tens of thousands of jobs. They range from the giant 198 acre Ladyport area which surrounds the Icknield Port Loop site, to Bordesley Park totalling 37 acres to the east of the city centre, to the “jewel in the crown”, the strategically important Southern Gateway area of 150 acres which has at its heart the wholesale markets which are due to relocate in the near future. He stressed that Southern Gateway has a strategic location adjoining the Bull Ring and the City Core retail and business area. “We are open for business and open to ideas for these major opportunities,” he told MIPIM delegates. “These key strategic areas provide a strong example of the regional teamwork that is pulling together to help us transform our city. Icknield Port Loop at Ladyport, for example, involves Birmingham City Council, Advantage West Midlands and British Waterways working together to create a 100 acre-plus development opportunity with enormous potential that will act as a catalyst for wider transformation of this part of the city.” He stressed that while no formal plans had been drawn up for these sites, they give a strong indication of the scale of the city’s ambitions. Waheed Nazir, Director of Regeneration at Birmingham City Council, said: “These areas demonstrate investment opportunities which are not set in stone, but they represent the next chapter in the regeneration story that is taking place across Birmingham. “We have chosen to rename these legacy sites – Southern Gateway, Ladyport and Bordesley Park – to stress that they cover a much wider area than has been seen before. “For example, when you show someone the Southern Gateway area on the map, they might immediately think of the wholesale markets site. “But while the wholesale markets site is enormously important in regeneration terms, it is but 60 acres in a larger area we are calling Southern Gateway which encompasses 150 acres. “This is repeated in the Bordesley Park and Ladyport areas and we will be consulting heavily over the next couple of years on our ideas and vision for all three of these exciting areas.” Here’s looking at you… world Birmingham is set to tap into the top table and access cutting edge communication through a radical new partnership with CISCO which would link the city’s knowledge economy entrepreneurs with their peers in an exclusive club of global cities such as San Francisco, Barcelona, Paris, Dubai, London, Bangalore, Toronto and Mumbai. The announcement was made at MIPIM 2010, the global property conference in Cannes by Birmingham City Council leader Coun Mike Whitby who is also chairman of Birmingham Science Park Aston (BSPA). BSPA is about to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with CISCO Systems, the US-based multinational corporation that designs and sells networking and communications technology and services. The first phase of this partnership will include the installation of state-of-the-art video conferencing facilities such as TelePresence, linking Birmingham to the world. Coun Whitby told delegates in Cannes: “Putting Birmingham at the forefront of international communication will allow companies to connect to their international counterparts seamlessly, but without the expense of long-distance travel. “This first step is only the beginning of a long-term partnership, to invest in Birmingham and bring more big name technology companies to the Science Park. “The cornerstone of our long-term plans will be a £40 million ICT village, which is intended to be as iconic and recognisable as Selfridges or the new Library.” The ambitious project will see four brand new buildings constructed at Birmingham Science Park Aston, creating an Innovation Village based round a new central facility, “iCentrum”, providing access to state of the art e-collaboration platforms to link Birmingham’s technology innovators and entrepreneurs to their counterparts around the world. Birmingham is on the move A new artist’s impression of the New Street Station redevelopment, viewed from Hill Street. High Speed Rail is not the only transport news that is setting the Birmingham MIPIM stand alight at the international property conference in Cannes. Delegates have been told that the last piece in the funding jigsaw for the long awaited runway extension at Birmingham International Airport could be put in place at a full board meeting of the airport’s directors in April. Coun Mike Whitby, leader of Birmingham City Council, said he was very hopeful that the final £25 million had been secured which would allow work to start. “The runway extension is absolutely vital in global terms. It is the most important piece of concrete in Birmingham’s economic regeneration because it enables us to reach out across the world, taking our goods into new markets and providing investors with easier access to our city.” He said that over the next ten years – The Decade of Delivery as MIPIM 2010 has been themed by Birmingham – the region would “see the benefits of a Strategic Transport Investment programme that befits a global destination”. He laid out to delegates in his Welcome Speech on Wednesday morning the kind of commitment that Birmingham City Council and its partners were showing to the region’s growing transport requirements. Birmingham Gateway, the £600 million redevelopment of New Street Station, has already started and will handle 52 million passengers a year by the time it is completed in 2015. High Speed Rail 2 will enable Londoners to commute to Birmingham in as little as 49 minutes, create 10,000 jobs and bring £6 billion worth of benefits to the UK economy. It will also bring the new £235 million city centre Curzon Street Station and a new station near Birmingham International Airport and the NEC. The airport’s £120 million runway extension will be completed by 2014 and enable passenger numbers to grow from ten million to 18 million over the following ten years. The Metro tram extension, which he announced in his speech at MIPIM, would enable nine million passengers a year to travel easily between Moor Street and New Street station in a £120 million project starting in 2012 and to be completed in 2015. The City Council’s Highways PFI programme will see a £2.7 billion spend starting in June 2010 which will enable the maintenance and development of 2,800kms of city roads over the next 25 years. And in a “Back to the Future” style announcement he previewed a plan to bring back into passenger use some of the many freight-only lines that criss-cross the Birmingham area and increase local rail capacity for two million passengers per year. The programme is scheduled for a 2018 start with completion in 2023. Some of the lines and disused stations that are under consideration would see lines linking Camp Hill, Sutton Coldfield and Tamworth with the city centre. Coun Whitby said: “This is a transport programme of truly massive proportions that will take enormous political will and the support of not only national government but also private sector investors to bring to fruition. “We have demonstrated with the long determination we showed to bring the Birmingham Gateway project and the Library of Birmingham to the starting line and that is why I am convinced the 2020s will be the Decade of Delivery.” Whitby cautions Midland investors not to miss out on ‘Decade of Delivery’ Open for business: Birmingham City Council leader Mike Whitby on the Birmingham stand at MIPIM You are pushing on an open door if you want to put your money into Birmingham in the next ten years, council leader Mike Whitby will tell the world’s leading investors at MIPIM 2010, the global property conference in Cannes. But he is warning locally-based investors not to miss out on the “acres of opportunity” he is announcing at this year’s shop window where the world’s leading cities present their plans to the top financiers and banks across the globe. He will urge the many Midland-based developers and investors to take a closer look at the opportunities closer to home, rather than sit on their cash or chase the end of the rainbow on other continents. “If you come and talk to us, you will find that there are opportunities in Birmingham to suit every pocket in the next ten years, whether you want to build a mini-town on one of our aggregated major development areas, or simply take advantage of the momentum in the city to launch smaller schemes that can leverage off the big ticket projects across the city,” he will tell MIPIM delegates. “Birmingham is a successful, confident and growing city. As the regional capital at the heart of the City Region we are an economic engine for the UK growth agenda. “We offer a quality of life which is commensurate with the very best cities in Europe, at a price which puts us head and shoulders above the UK capital – from which we will be only 49 minutes away by train when HS2 is operating. “Birmingham has redefined what it means to be a modern global city. We cherish the historic links we have with our old, European partners, but we forge new friendships directly with the countries and cities that will be the growth nodules of tomorrow – Shanghai, Abu Dhabi, New Delhi, Beijing and Kuwait. “While are proud of our own past, we have a confidence in our future on a scale which makes other cities envious. “We are investing in that confidence, with £6 billion of public sector finance currently committed to literally transforming Birmingham and evolving it to the next level. “We are investing almost £200 million in our new Library of Birmingham, building the largest public library in Europe at a time when no other city can invest at these levels in cultural infrastructure. “As a strategic move to underpin our successful relationship with the private sector, this alone will act as a catalyst for over £600 million of new private sector development. “Captured within our award-winning Big City Plan we will lever in £14 billion of committed private sector investment as part of one of the largest city centre masterplans ever to be created.” And he will stress that while other cities make their plans and seek investment, Birmingham’s development momentum is carrying it relentlessly forward. “This year, we will see the next phase of on-the-ground delivery in Birmingham; as we put flesh on the bones of our strategic masterplan – with innovative approaches to transport and street scene; as we start work on a £600 million station and the new Library; and as we open some of the most significant developments in Europe like the new £550 million Super Hospital. “All of our efforts are focused on raising the quality of living in Birmingham – and making us one of the top 25 cities in the world. We are already making incredible progress – ranked as safest of all core cities, the best educated of all core cities, and considered the cleanest city and cleanest place by the UK Cleansing Council. “However, our commitment towards excellence, and our belief that we will continue to build a better tomorrow, gives investors the confidence they need in coming to Birmingham. “These are tough economic times, and we are under no illusions about the challenges which public and private sector budgets will face. However, it is precisely these times when the truly great cities can show their mettle. There are opportunities galore at the moment, for the right investor, and the right development – to become the successes of the future that help define a city, and a generation, at the heart of one of Europe’s most exciting places to live, work and visit.” Birmingham Science Park Aston chooses MIPIM to launch IT village on the world stage Birmingham is using the global platform of the MIPIM property conference to announce plans for a £40 million ICT village to be built in the city. The ambitious project will see four brand new buildings constructed at Birmingham Science Park Aston, creating an Innovation Village based round a new iCentrum building. Birmingham City Council officials at MIPIM will be flagging up the opportunity to invest in Birmingham Science Park Aston’s ambitious plans at the four-day conference in Cannes. The four buildings will provide a total gross area of 10,895 sq m (117,272 sq ft) of space, with the iCentrum building the largest at 4,280 sq m (46,069 sq ft). There will be two further buildings of 1,629 sq m (17,534 sq ft) and a fourth building offering 3,357 sq m (36,134 sq ft) Dr David Hardman, Managing Director of Birmingham Science Park Aston, said the proposed Innovation Village was powerful evidence of the Science Park’s determination to drive its reputation higher on the world stage. He said: “Birmingham Science Park Aston is all about providing a physical presence where a professional infrastructure links with technology, innovation, funding, and the key driver in any knowledge-based business, the people, to create a world leading resource of intellectual capital. “At a time when the knowledge economy is seen a key factor in moving the UK out of recession, Birmingham Science Park Aston initiatives are championing and catalysing the innovation economy of Birmingham and the region by supporting innovators and entrepreneurs to help them deliver their aspirations and drive their high-tech services and products towards the market place” “We are owned by Birmingham City Council, but we also look to work in partnership with the Council to help shape and drive its innovation agenda within the Big City Plan. The draft proposals envisage four new buildings which are linked by a spectacular colonnade walkway on land fronting on to Holt Lane. Speaking at the launch of the plans at MIPIM in France, Coun Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council and Chairman of Birmingham Science Park Aston, said the City recognised the vital importance of the knowledge economy in the region’s future success. “Located at the very heart of our Global City our renowned Science Park has the capacity to act as a major contributor towards our ambitions to grow as a world-class centre for innovation,” he said. “As Chairman of the Science Park I am determined to see it grow and become an even more successful story, akin to other Council-owned assets like the NEC. I am delighted that now, with a clear new direction, the full support of the City Council, and David’s expertise, we are signalling our ambition to be world-leaders.” Dr Hardman said: “Birmingham Science Park Aston is more than a geographic location. We are developing a flexible, highly connected and collaborative culture; an environment where people with ideas meet people with experience and people with investment funds. “Connectivity is driven by face-to-face meetings within our facilities, at our events and increasingly, as we develop our activities to drive the low carbon agenda, through smart work environments, in virtual space. “The development of our new Innovation Village will be the cornerstone of our plans to build Birmingham Science Park Aston’s global reputation through the next decade.” Birmingham to have new university college campus An artist’s impression of the new University College Birmingham building in the Jewellery Quarter University College Birmingham (UCB) plans to build a brand new campus on four acres on the edge of the Jewellery Quarter, delegates to MIPIM 2010, the global property conference in Cannes, have learned. Coun Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council, made the announcement as one of a series of previews of new schemes taking place over the next ten years – the Decade of Delivery – as this year’s Birmingham mission to MIPIM is being themed. “The plans will be presented to the college board later this month and such is the interest in what we are doing in Birmingham that over 190 firms of architects in the UK, Europe and the US have already registered an interest in working with us,” he revealed. UCB Principal Prof Ray Linforth said the intention was, over time, to develop a new campus on land bounded by George Street, Holland Street and Charlotte Street. The college already owns two acres and is under contract to purchase an adjoining site of similar size. UCB, formerly known as Birmingham College of Food, Tourism & Creative Studies, currently operates from 177,000 sq ft premises in Summer Row and also owns Richmond House (60,000 sq ft) in Newhall Street. The intention is to develop the new campus in three phases starting with circa 80,000 sq ft which will house a new student hub that will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the benefit mainly of higher education students, giving them round the clock access to suit their individual requirements. The first phase will also include a new post-graduate centre and additional classrooms plus interlinking social space. The initial phase will cost £20 million, which Prof Linforth said would be funded from reserves and UCB plans to have the first part of the new campus open by 2013. “This will be the largest capital project in the Jewellery Quarter in the next few years and will be a significant catalyst in the economic regeneration of the area,” said Prof Linforth. Making Birmingham the irresistible choice Housing challenge: Glenn Howells Birmingham must make itself “irresistible” to businessmen thinking of moving out of London. That’s the message leading architect Glenn Howells wants the Birmingham team at MIPIM 2010 in Cannes next week (March 16-19) to bear in mind – the London stand has moved this year to a position directly opposite Birmingham. Mr Howells, of award-winning Glenn Howells Architects, believes it can be achieved and the city is on the right track. And he should know if anyone does. With offices in Birmingham and London, his firm works on a range of national and international projects including mixed use schemes, theatres, cinemas, aparthotels, visitor centres and education and residential complexes. It represents both private and public clients – the likes of Argent, Ballymore, Urban Splash, Stoford, First Base and the University of Birmingham. Projects in Birmingham and the Midlands have taken in the renewal of the Rotunda, work on the Custard Factory, and a plan to remodel the National Arboretum. Mr Howells believes Birmingham must place “livability” at the heart of what it is looking to achieve. And that means getting families to embrace the city centre and surrounding area. He said it was fantastic that the city centre continued to make progress when in other parts of the country the cranes were standing idle, scuppered by the recession. Contractors were on site transforming New Street Station and plans to redevelop Paradise Circus, so expanding the link to Broad Street and Brindleyplace, were moving forward. It was “quite a success story” and indeed a “massive achievement” in such troubled times, he said. These were “huge steps”, the city centre offered big retail and cultural attractions, but it needed people living in and around. “I live a five-minute bike ride from the office – where are the emerging neighbourhoods which are going to attract people to take advantage of all that the city centre offers? “And I am talking families, not just migrant workers and singles. It is a really important aspect. We need to offer them good homes. It is happening and there are schemes which are starting to deliver.” The apartments which developers had concentrated on would not tend to appeal where children were involved. However, Attwood Green was providing families with affordable housing off the city centre and it was vital to get going with the Icknield Port Loop and East Birmingham. “We need to build wonderful new mixed communities who work in the city centre and live close to the city centre.” Part of the problem was that so many of those currently making a living in central Birmingham got in their cars and drove out again at 5pm, taking their spending power with them. Now was the opportunity to persuade more of them to stay by offering first class family housing. And that had to be in conjunction with transport improvements, both New Street Station and a link with Snow Hill Station. Birmingham, stressed Mr Howells, had much going for it. It was bidding to win City of Culture status, it had some of the best schools in the country, it had easily accessible open countryside and there was the opportunity to work with all creeds and cultures. In contrast, family housing was expensive in London and it was difficult to experience the great outdoors. Birmingham already had some quality housing areas – Selly Oak, Bournville, Harborne, and Edgbaston. But, if it could offer good family homes in “the next layer out from the city centre” then that would be a major plus. Coupled with pushing ahead with the Big City Plan, it would mean Birmingham had a “compelling offering”. Mr Howells went on: “Rather than simply concentrating on landmark schemes the city needs to mature in its regeneration. We need integrated development. We need a good transport system. “I think the number of critics is becoming a lot less. If they even spend a small amount of time in Birmingham, perhaps visit for a major conference, then they discover the city has a lot to enjoy and is easy to navigate. We need to tell them about the new Birmingham and then move forward with the next wave of regeneration. “We have to get to a position where if people are searching for a move away from London, and it comes down to a contest, say, between Birmingham and Bristol, then Birmingham wins.” And perhaps the real test would come in 10-15 years when high speed rail brought Birmingham just 40 minutes away from London. The cynics, said Mr Howells, might argue it would allow travellers the opportunity to spend even less time in Birmingham. Instead Birmingham had to turn potential into reality, have its offer in place, and work out how to get the most from high speed rail. “We have to work on the livability and the quality aspect of the city centre experience,” he stressed. “We need to be even more competitive. We must pull in businesses currently based in London and the South-east. We need to make Birmingham the irresistible choice.” Rad Jag and cocktails for MIPIM winner Les Ratcliffe, Jaguar community relations manager, and Kathrine Ohm Thomas, general manager of the Radisson Blu, admire the sleek lines of the new Jaguar XJ. Jaguar Land Rover and the Radisson Blu Hotel in Birmingham have teamed up with Birmingham City Council to offer one lucky MIPIM delegate a VIP trip to the city and the region. Visitors to the Birmingham stand at the global property conference in Cannes which runs from Tuesday, March 16, to Friday, March 19, will be able to look over the brand new Jaguar XJ that is set to take the luxury car market by storm. The XJ has just been launched to critical acclaim in the south of France. Coun Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council, is particularly pleased that the city has managed to arrange for one of the new models to be proudly displayed on the Birmingham stand at MIPIM. “The new Jaguar XJ exemplifies all that is best about Birmingham. It is a contemporary luxury car that is beautiful, exhilarating and sustainable. “It demonstrates what we can do in the West Midlands and is the most powerful showcase for our automotive industry.” After they have been fully briefed on all the existing developments coming to Birmingham and the West Midlands, delegates visiting the Birmingham stand will be invited to enter the competition. The lucky winner will experience Birmingham as a VIP for the day. With a partner or friend, the winner will be collected from Birmingham International Airport in a chauffeur-driven Jaguar XJ before being whisked to Jaguar’s Castle Bromwich plant for an executive tour of the production facilities there. Then it’s on to Birmingham’s landmark Radisson Blu Hotel where they will enjoy contemporary Italian dining in the hotel’s Filini Restaurant and an overnight stay in the Presidential Suite. The following morning they will be collected from the Radisson Blu and taken to the exciting 4x4 off-road driving experience at Land Rover’s Home of the Legend track in Solihull. Kathrine Ohm Thomas, General Manager of the Radisson Blu, said: “Whoever wins this great prize will see Birmingham at its best. “They will enjoy a fabulous meal and a luxury overnight stay in our Presidential Suite as well as experiencing the very best that Jaguar Land Rover has to offer.” ? We built this city ? Birmingham singing trio all set to welcome MIPIM delegates – Matt Hoy, Suzi Lauder and David Saylor. . Birmingham delegates to MIPIM 2010, the global property conference in Cannes, will be serenaded by a top trio from the city. Suzi Lauder, David Saylor and Matt Hoy (ALL CORRECT) started a three-month residency at the resort’s prestigious Hotel Martinez on March 1 and will be welcoming Birmingham City Council leader Coun Mike Whitby and the Birmingham delegation. The trio have all enjoyed successful solo careers but have teamed up to offer Hotel Martinez guests a colourful selection of musical styles and genres. The world’s top investors and over 420 local authorities from 79 countries are among the 2,000 exhibitors expected to attract an audience of over 25,000 to this year’s four day conference, which opens next Tuesday (MAR 16). And Suzi, Dave and Matt will be on hand at the Hotel Martinez in the evenings to soothe the stress of a day’s wheeling and dealing among global power brokers. Suzi Lauder worked in Birmingham as a model, actress and choreographer for many years, appearing at the BBC’s Pebble Mill studios on shows like Pebble Mill at One where she was a regular with fashion designer Jeff Banks. She has since focused on her singing career, performing and singing on the cabaret circuit and providing entertainment for the corporate world. Her album “The Mermaid in High Heeled Shoes” is now available on iTunes. She also works in collaboration with Roy Hemmings in the 60s Soul & Motown tribute show called “The Krysteletts”, where together with Georgie Green and Haley Berrisford, the three recreate the “wall of sound” and tell the story of Soul around the UK. She has worked with singer songwriter David Saylor for 14 years and he has had both gold and platinum albums, particularly in the Spanish charts, and in South and northern America, Puerto Rico and Mexico. As well as singing on his own albums, he has also worked with Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, Marta Sanchez, Albert Hammond and Jon Secada. Matt Hoy has been writing songs for a number of years with guitarist Jon Nash in their own studio in Bournville in Birmingham. He has sung with artists such as Simply Red and Wet Wet.. He performs regularly with “Up for the Downstroke” at The Jam House and has gigged at The Glee Club. His latest album “Integrity” is also available on iTunes. Coun Mike Whitby, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “Birmingham has a proud musical tradition stretching over many years and we could not have a better trio of ambassadors than Suzi, David and Matt to blaze a trail for us in Cannes. “The Birmingham team at MIPIM 2010 will be wishing them all the best in their three month residency at the Hotel Martinez, and we will be telling our guests and stand visitors where they can hear the best music in the evenings!” Brummies on top! Rider Levett Bucknall’s global board - Kenneth Kwan, Bob Richardson, Philip Lo, Brian Dackers, Lance Taylor, Julian Anderson, David Bucknall, Andy Ritchie and Stephen Lai. Turn up at a major property development across the world that is being handled by construction consultants Rider Levett Bucknall and the chances are that there is a Brummie in charge. Five out of the nine Birmingham-based property and construction practice’s global board directors hail from the city or cut their teeth working in Birmingham. Rider Levett Bucknall is once more supporting the Birmingham team of City Council and private sector sponsors at MIPIM 2010, continuing a tradition of supporting MIPIM that goes back over several years. The business has more than 2,000 people in 80 offices across Asia, Oceania, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas. The firm provides cost management, project management and advisory services to the construction and property sector. Since the Birmingham business of Bucknall Austin in the UK merged with Rider Hunt Levett & Bailey to become Rider Levett Bucknall the company has forged ahead with a growing number of Brummies at the helm. At the top is chairman David Bucknall, who works alongside chief executive officer Lance Taylor in Birmingham. Born in Wolverhampton, David studied at Birmingham College of Art & Technology (now part of Birmingham City University) and qualified as a quantity surveyor in 1961 when he joined the family firm, which became Bucknall Austin. He has always lived in the West Midlands with his wife Moya. Lance Taylor was born in Wolverhampton and attended South Bank Polytechnic. Following a 15-year national career he is now based in Birmingham. He has always lived in Wolverhampton with his wife and two sons. Bob Richardson, managing director of Rider Levett Bucknall in Australia, worked in Birmingham for Bucknall Austin from 1983 to 1986 and lived in Birmingham for the same time. His mother was born in the city and his sister and numerous nieces and nephews still live here. He now lives in Sydney making regular trips back to Birmingham and the UK. The managing director of Rider Levett Bucknall Hong Kong is Stephen Lai, who was born in Hong Kong. He studied in Hampshire from 1977 to 1980, then took a BSc degree course at the University of Aston in Birmingham and graduated in 1984. During his university course he worked at a A G Robottom in Birmingham and Wilson Large in Coventry. The fifth Rider Levett Bucknall global director to have connections with Birmingham is Andy Ritchie. He joined Bucknall Austin 20 years ago and worked in Birmingham for six years before setting up the Manchester office and then going over to Hong Kong to do the same there. His skills in this area are now being used in Saudi Arabia, where he moved last June to set up and launch a dedicated RLB office. Chief executive officer Lance Taylor said: “As we already know in Birmingham, if you want a job doing properly you are better off with a Brummie in charge. “At Rider Levett Bucknall we are very proud of our Midlands roots and the benefits of our ‘Can Do’ attitude. We are taking this message around the world and, as ever, we won’t be shy of telling everyone we meet at MIPIM where we come from.” He points out that the growth of the UK business has been driven by the globalisation of the consultancy and repeat business. “More than 60 per cent of our income comes from our top ten customers and 72 per cent comes from our top 20. We continually strive to maintain our 90 per cent retention rate of our client base. “Rider Levett Bucknall has increasingly done more work locally on global projects which is a direct result of the global merger.” A major opportunity arose almost immediately following the announcement of the London 2012 Games. Rider Hunt in Australia had significant experience from its involvement in the Sydney Olympics 2000 as well as the Beijing Olympics and it was this sharing of best practice that led to Rider Levett Bucknall securing a quantity surveying role for the 2012 games. Rider Levett Bucknall has had a presence in the Middle East for more than 25 years and with financial investments now being made into public works such as infrastructure, schools, housing and hospitals, the Midlands team has been well placed to take advantage of new opportunities. A new office was launched in Saudi Arabia last year and Rider Levett Bucknall is providing full time contract administration services to one of the major contractors on the King Abdullah Financial District, a whole new area of Riyadh which is being developed as a financial centre similar to Canary Wharf in London. Closer to its Birmingham headquarters, Rider Levett Bucknall has continued to deliver to the regional market and has been appointed as project manager and quantity surveyor to the £30 million refurbishment of Warwickshire Cricket Club as well as providing cost management services to the £40 million world class manufacturing technology centre at Ansty Park research and development site outside Coventry. This is one of the largest public sector investments in manufacturing for many years. Another recent sporting contract involves the new £320,000 national standard BMX track in Redditch where Rider Levett Bucknall is providing lead design, cost management and employers agent services. BMX became an Olympic sport for the first time in 2008 and a number of key organisations, including British Cycling and Sport England are fully backing the new track, seeing it as a key player in attracting potential world class athletes to the sport and the region. Together with its French partner Sterling Quest, the Birmingham team has been appointed as specialist cost consultant to the Olkiluoto 3 (OL3) reactor in Finland, the first to be built in a decade. Upon completion OL3 will be the biggest nuclear reactor in the world and will start to pump out electricity in 2012. One of the first construction professionals to achieve Investors in People (IIP) Silver status, Rider Levett Bucknall has this year moved up a place to take the number one spot in the The Daily Telegraph-sponsored Corporate Research Foundation’s “Britain’s Top Employers” table. It is also ranked 77th in the 2009 Sunday Times Best 100 Companies to Work For. RLB has recently been shortlisted as a finalist in the Leadership in People Development at this years Constructing Excellence 2010 Awards and Building Awards 2010 Construction Consultant/Surveyor of the year for the second year running. Backing Brum big style – Whitby praises MIPIM sponsors Birmingham’s private sector developers and construction companies have given “sterling support” to the city’s presence at MIPIM 2010, the global property conference in Cannes in March, according to city council leader Coun Mike Whitby. The financial support given by the private sector this year has far outstripped the amount the public sector has had to contribute. Coun Whitby said that the backing of major business names like Birmingham Development Company, Argent, Targetfollow, Nikal and Keepmoat, with additional support from Sahlia Investments, Rider Levett Bucknall, Arena Central, Bruntwood, McLaren Construction, Glenn Howells and Calthorpe Estates, had been vital in giving Birmingham a major presence at this year’s event. The world’s top investors and over 420 local authorities from 79 countries are among the 2,000 exhibitors expected to attract an audience of over 25,000 to this year’s four day conference which runs from Tuesday, March 16, to Friday, March 19. “Obviously the economy is still very tight but that simply highlights just how committed these companies are to the Birmingham cause,” he said. “Their sterling support for Birmingham’s bold development plans and our vision for the next ten years – The Decade of Delivery – is absolutely tremendous. “Our private sector friends in Birmingham support their city in a way that is not matched by any other UK city, and we can all be rightly proud of that.” He also thanked Advantage West Midlands, City Region, Jaguar Land Rover, Amey and Radisson Blu Hotel for their support. “The big advantage that Birmingham and the West Midlands has over every other region is that we work as a team and we are working towards the same goals. “We may sometimes disagree on the roadmap, but we know that in the next ten years we want to build a Birmingham that has a world class reputation for innovation and regeneration.” As well as major transport projects such as the £120 million runway extension planned for Birmingham International Airport and the £450 million Chiltern line, Coun Whitby listed the many attractive major investment projects which are contributing to Birmingham being a “dynamic city,” including the £600 million New Street Gateway station, £550 million final phase of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Cube building. He cited flagship projects such as the £188 million library and the £60.5 million Olympic standard swimming pool as evidence of the city’s vision. “We have 20:20 vision on what we want to achieve in this city and region by 2020,” he said. With a runway extension at Birmingham International Airport and the onset of the High Speed 2 rail link to London in 46 minutes, he said the city was on track to raise its global presence and push on into the top 25 cities in the world. “Birmingham City Council can lead the way but we cannot do this on our own, which is why I am particularly pleased at the support the private sector has shown to our MIPIM campaign this year and in previous years,” he said. For further information, please call the Team Birmingham Press Office for MIPIM 2010 on 01527 892004. Andy Skinner, on 07990 978257 – andy@asap-pr.com For photography - Tony Flanagan, on 07831 605267 – ajfpix@btopenworld.com .