Leeds is the largest of eight local authorities in the UK to be granted a large casino licence, which permits a minimum table gaming area of up to 1,000 sqm.

Speaking at a Developer and Investor Forum hosted by the Leeds City Region at MIPIM, Martin Farrington, Leeds City Council’s Director of City Development, said: “The application process for potential operators and developers is an open process. There is no preferred location or operator for the large casino and no preferred form of development. It could involve either new build or a refurbishment.”

He explained that the two stage selection process involves a statutory licensing application, followed by a ‘greatest benefit test’ in which the council will consider all applications that successfully meet the evaluation criteria, assessing them in terms of greatest social and economic benefit to the city.

The deadline for stage one is April 26th, with the second stage anticipated to start in August and the licence expected to be granted in March 2013.

“Newham has already allocated its licence and of those remaining, the Leeds large casino licence stands out because of the strength of the city’s leisure and visitor economy

“Leeds is a leading UK leisure destination. By day it is a prosperous retail and visitor destination. By night the city comes alive with restaurants, bars, clubs and entertainment venues. It’s renowned theatre, opera and ballet companies add to Leeds’ superb visitor and cultural attractions.”

“A large casino will add an exciting new dimension to city’s already vibrant leisure offer and night time economy.”

He continued: “Leeds is a city that keeps on growing. We’ve stepped up to the plate in delivering the Leeds Arena which has had a catalytic effect in bringing forward investment and development proposals from Bruntwood, Town Centre Securities and the Mars Pension Fund, in addition to the huge investment being made by Land Securities in the 1 million sq ft Trinity Leeds retail and leisure development.”

Ashley Blake, head of retail portfolio management at Land Securities emphasised the importance of leisure: “Leeds has high retailer demand and there is room to grow weekend spend and the evening economy. We see Leeds as a major regional centre with great potential.”

He said that Trinity Leeds would propel the city to fourth in the UK retail rankings and that destination leisure and retail was set to grow much more strongly than traditional retail, with leisure facilities such as casinos, cinemas and high quality restaurants providing an excellent anchor for retail development and ensuring its success in in the age of online shopping.

Martin Farrington continued: “There is a compelling case for investing in Leeds. The leisure economy already attracts thousands of visitors to the city, keen to enjoy its exciting nightlife, retail offer and visitor attractions.

“In 2013 the city’s leisure economy will go up a league when the new Leeds Arena open, attracting international artists and some of the world’s biggest entertainment events. Major retail developments are also set to change the face of shopping in Leeds over the next decade.”

Recent figures place a value of over £1.4 billion on the city’s visitor economy, while economic output Leeds and the wider city region stands at over £53 billion per annum.

Flagship schemes currently under construction in the city centre, including the new 13,500-capacity Leeds Arena and the £350 million Trinity Leeds retail and leisure development, were also showcased at the event in MIPIM and are expected to generate further investment in the city.

The 1 million sq ft development by Land Securities is the largest development of its kind currently under construction in the UK and will make Leeds the north’s leading retail destination. The scheme is already 60 per cent pre-let, a clear indication of the confidence investors and retailers have in the city’s future.

Both the arena and Trinity Leeds are scheduled to open in Spring 2013, when the council expects to grant the large casino licence.

Speaking at the ‘Leeds Investment Capital’ event at MIPIM today and in advance of tomorrow’s keynote breakfast briefing on incentives for investment and growth across the Leeds City Region, he outlined benefits that will be available to companies locating in the enterprise zone.

Companies locating in the enterprise zone include business rate relief, simplified planning and high speed broadband.

The amount of business rate relief offered will be the full business rates up to a maximum of £55,000 per year.  The relief will be awarded for a period of five years from the date of entry into the zone, provided that this is before 1^st April 2015.

The zone is also set to benefit from a £2.5m investment for Muse Developments to deliver the spine road that will open up and accelerate the development of the 49 hectare Logic Leeds site. The road will be funded from growth in business rates generated through the enterprise zone. Muse Developments anticipates a start on site at Logic Leeds in summer 2012.

Martin Farrington, Director of City Development at Leeds City Council said proposals for the enterprise zone had received unanimous, all party support: “The enterprise zone enjoys superb transport links and benefits from close proximity to Leeds City Centre, the main driver of the economy. It is an ideal location for companies in healthcare, low carbon manufacturing, renewable energy, waste management, logistics and distribution.

“The early infrastructure work is well underway with the East Leeds link road now complete and the addition of the new link to the Logic Leeds site as well as business rate relief will deliver lasting benefits for the regional economy.”

Martin will join Neil McLean, chair of the Leeds City Region local enterprise partnership on the panel at tomorrow’s breakfast briefing in MIPIM. Other speakers include Matt Crompton, joint managing director of Muse Developments, Barra MacRuari, strategic Director for Regeneration, Bradford City Council and Stephen Kennard, Director of Land and Development at London Development Agency.

The event will highlight major opportunities for investment and development across the city region and included a keynote address from Neil McLean. The event is supported by Muse Developments with Evans Property Group and Keyland, major developers and landowners within the enterprise zone.

The enterprise zone will come into operation on 1st April 2012 for a period of three years and incorporates four major development sites within the wider Aire Valley Leeds regeneration area. It is expected to deliver 3,000 new jobs over the next three years.

Together the sites provide 142 hectares of development land suitable for industrial and distribution, high quality office and research & development uses.

Leeds City Council has also confirmed that it has approved a local development order (LDO) to give planning permission for the installation of roof-mounted solar panels on non-domestic buildings. This will apply to buildings within the area covered by the Aire Valley Leeds Area Action Plan and Urban Eco Settlement.

This LDO is likely to have a positive impact on regeneration through encouraging uptake in micro renewable technology, which will help to lower business running costs and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

The LDO specifically excludes installation of solar panels affecting listed buildings and conservation areas.

The Leeds City Region will also host an event in MIPIM later today setting out opportunities linked to the large casino licence. Leeds is the largest of eight authorities in the UK to be granted a large casino licence and the opportunity is already attracting widespread interest from developers.

Neil McLean, who was speaking at a Mayor’s think tank alongside civic leaders from across Europe, said: “The economic strength of the Leeds City Region is immense. We have an economy larger than a number of European countries, we are home to over 100,000 businesses and 8 higher education institutions.

“The potential for growth is great, as is the opportunity we now have to work collaboratively with the private sector.”

“With developments including the Leeds Arena, Bradford’s City Park, Trinity Leeds, and, of course, the Aire Valley Enterprise Zone, we have the potential to make a major contribution to the growth and prosperity of UKplc.  All the building blocks are here for a real period of dynamism.”

Mr McLean took part in an ‘Investment for Growth’ seminar yesterday where he joined senior representatives from London, Manchester and Birmingham to present on the key infrastructure investment required to keep cities competitive and drive growth.”

Speaking at the event, alongside Sir Howard Bernstein, chief  executive of Manchester City Council, Mike Whitby, leader of Birmingham Council and Sir Edward Lister, deputy mayor of London, he said: “Local, regional and national infrastructure needs upgrading to unlock the potential of the UK economy. Relatively limited spending on infrastructure can generate a major impact on overall output and create thousands of new jobs.”

“But we need closer collaboration and a sense of common purpose. Upgrading the transpennine rail link, for example, will bring the economies of Leeds and Manchester closer together and create a strong Northern economy that can make a major contribution to UK growth.”

Bruntwood: Leeds has given us confidence to make a new acquisition
Other events hosted by the Leeds City Region yesterday included an investment forum in which Chris Oglesby, Chief Executive, Bruntwood confirmed the company’s portfolio in Leeds was 99% let. He said:

“The acid test of the strength of a market is how it performs in difficult times and I’m pleased to say that the performance of properties such as Kings Street has given us great confidence in Leeds.

“It’s a nice problem to have but we need more product and Bruntwood is looking to acquire new property in Leeds. We expect to make a major announcement about a new acquisition within the next week.”

Martin Farrington, Director of City Development, Leeds City Council, John Flathers, Partner and Head of Real Estate at Irwin Mitchell, also highlighted at the opportunities in the city including flagship projects, Bradford’s City Park, the Leeds Arena and the Trinity Leeds retail and leisure development. John said:

“Irwin Mitchell set up in Leeds in 1993 and has grown from a team of three to employ 225 people today with a turnover of £30 million and 35,000 sq ft of offices at MEPC Wellington Place.

“Leeds is a place that provides you with all the facilities needed to grow your business with, not just alongside the city.”

The new Leeds Arena and the £350 million Trinity Leeds retail and leisure development by Land Securities, both scheduled to open in Spring 2013, will have a major impact on the economy of Leeds and the wider city region. Together with the Eastgate Quarters development by Hammerson, they will give a huge boost to the profile of Leeds on the national and international stage. The Aire Valley Leeds enterprise zone, major new office developments at Sovereign Street, the redevelopment of the landmark City House by Bruntwood and proposals for the Tetley’s Brewery site will also underscore the position of Leeds as one of the UK’s leading business locations.

The delegation is managed by Marketing Leeds and is supported by Muse Developments, Keyland and Evans Property Group – key landowners and developers within the Aire Valley Leeds enterprise zone.

The delegation of public and private sector partners will be led by Neil McLean, chair of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). He will be joined by Martin Farrington, director of city development at Leeds City Council and Barra Macuairi, strategic director for regeneration, Bradford City Council, John Flathers, partner and head of real estate at Mitchell, and Amanda Beresford, legal director at Addleshaw Goddard.

The delegation is also being supported by Muse Developments, Keyland and Evans Property Group – key landowners and developers within the Aire Valley Leeds enterprise zone.

The priority, says Jean Dent, interim chief executive of Marketing Leeds, the organisation responsible for coordinating the city region’s presence at MIPIM, is to engage with investors and promote  the major investment opportunities presented by the Leeds City Region, including the Aire Valley Leeds enterprise zone, the Leeds large casino licence and Bradford’s city centre ‘growth zone’. She says:

“MIPIM plays an important role in demonstrating the strength of the city region’s offer on an international stage and allows us to engage directly with a significant number of key investors. Our stand events and seminars are now an established and  respected element of the MIPIM programme and I am delighted that the private sector is once again working with us to create a high profile programme that will create maximum impact and help attract investment to Leeds and the city region.”

The delegation has a full programme over the three day event and will use a series of developer and investor forums, small private dinners and a keynote breakfast briefing to promote the city region internationally and to engage with investors (Details below).

MIPIM is the world’s biggest property and development exhibition and conference. More than 18,000 delegates, including 4,000 investors, are expected to attend MIPIM 2012.

Speakers at the Leeds City Region’s events include Ashley Blake, Director of Retail Portfolio for Land Securities, Matt Crompton, Joint Managing Director of Muse Developments, Chris Oglesby, Chief Executive of Bruntwood, and Stephen Kennard, Director of Land and Development at the London Development Agency.

Exhibition stand sessions during MIPIM 2012 will enable delegates to find out more about opportunities presented by the Aire Valley Leeds enterprise zone and Bradford’s city centre ‘growth zone’, which offer a package of incentives designed to stimulate investment, attract business and create jobs.

The Leeds City Region stand will be situated in the Palais des Festivals (Level 01, Stand No.16.16/18.3) and will be fully equipped with wifi and meeting areas to enable delegates to use it as a business hub.

In a key move, and demonstrating the influence of the city, Neil McLean will take part in an Investment for Growth seminar on Wednesday 7^th March where he will join senior representatives from London, Manchester and Birmingham to present on the key infrastructure investment required to keep cities competitive. Neil will also take part in a Mayor’s think tank event on Wednesday, bringing together civic leaders from across Europe.

John Flathers, a real estate partner at law firm Irwin Mitchell, and Amanda Beresford, legal director of law firm Addleshaw Goddard will be representing the Leeds City Region as ambassadors during the three day convention, which begins tomorrow.

MIPIM is one of the world’s largest property and inward investment events and attracts thousands of delegates every year to Cannes in France.

Mr Flathers said he was positive about the future of development in the Leeds City Region.

“There have been some bold decisions taken during tough times to progress some of the key developments such as the Leeds Arena and Trinity Leeds and going forward there are oppotunities to take advantage of things when the economy picks up,” he said.

Ms Beresford said it was important to carry on the momentum generated within the Leeds City Region and convey that to an international audience.

“The timing for MIPIM is fantastic for the Leeds City Region as there’s so much coming on stream,” she said. “What we’re doing is telling the rest of the country and other European countries about it.”

The pair will take part in a number of events promoting opportunities and ongoing developments in the Leeds City Region during MIPIM.

Mr Flathers played down the view from some analysts that London and the South East have been ‘immune’ to the property downturn and that locations such as the Leeds City Region were losing out to overseas investment.

“I think there’s a lot of hype in the London market,” he said. “And I’m not sure how truthful it is. I still think there’s a lot being done in regional markets.”

He said there were commercial opportunites off the back of increasing manufacturing activity in Yorkshire.

“People do need industrial space and I think that will pick up,” he said. “The question about what we can do to get more inward investment into the Leeds City Region is business critical and that’s why MIPIM is important.

“My aim out there is to be proud and sell our region and all the great things we have to offer. I hope in six months time we’ll be able to invite the people we’ve met at MIPIM back to Leeds to show them what we have got. That will be the acid test that we’ve met good contacts.

“If you’re going to invest in the city region you want the people investing to realise that if you get involved and hands on with what’s going on here you’ll get more out of it.”

Ms Beresford: “I live and work and am raising a family in the Leeds City Region and I want it to be a success. I’m going out as an ambassador to MIPIM to talk about all that is good about the Leeds City Region and its economic success.

“I’m determined it’s going to be an opportunity to make contacts and do my bit for the Leeds City Region.”

The enterprise zone will be showcased to delegates at international property conference MIPIM, which takes place in Cannes next week. Muse Developments, with Evans Property Group and Keyland is supporting the keynote Leeds City Region event, ‘Incentives for Growth’, which will be held on Thursday 8^th March at the Majestic Hotel, Cannes.

Matt Crompton said: “MIPIM will provide a major international platform to raise the profile of the Enterprise Zone which enjoys superb transport links and benefits from close proximity to the M1 and Leeds city centre, the main driver of the wider regional economy. It’s an ideal location for companies in healthcare, low carbon manufacturing, renewable energy, waste management, logistics and distribution.”

The event will highlight major opportunities for investment and development across the city region and includes a keynote address by Neil McLean, chair of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership.

Matt Crompton will be joined on the panel by Martin Farrington, Director for City Development at Leeds City Council, Barra MacRuari, strategic Director for Regeneration, Bradford City Council and Stephen Kennard, Director of Land and Development at London Development Agency.

Aire Valley Leeds Enterprise Zone
The Aire Valley Leeds Enterprise Zone goes live in April. It incorporates four major development sites within the Aire Valley Leeds – Newmarket Lane, Thornes Farm, Logic Leeds and Temple Green.

All sites have planning permission already in place. Landowners and developers include Evans Property Group, Muse Developments, Keyland, Wilton Developments and Leeds City Council.

The Government introduced Enterprise Zones to stimulate investment and drive economic growth. They offer a package of benefits to attract businesses and create new jobs. These include reduced business rates, simplified planning regulations and high speed broadband.

The Aire Valley Leeds Enterprise Zone is expected to create 3,000 jobs and covers a total of 142 hectares of prime development land located along the £32m East Leeds Link Road, which links Leeds city centre to junction 45 of the M1.

Neil McLean, chair of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The Aire Valley Leeds Enterprise Zone promises to bring major benefits to the whole of the Leeds City Region, which will be able to use additional business rates generated within the Enterprise Zone to invest in economic development projects across the city region.”

He continued: “The Enterprise Zone is also expected to act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the wider Aire Valley Leeds, which fully developed, could deliver a £550 million of additional economic output and over 9,500 new jobs by 2025.”

The Enterprise Zone is just one of the opportunities being showcased at MIPIM by the Leeds City Region. The delegation will also highlight the Leeds large casino licence and Bradford’s City Park and city centre growth zone.

Matt Crompton, joint managing director of Muse Developments, also told TheBusinessDesk.com he would be “disappointed” if work was not progressing on the scheme by next year.

The enterprise zone, which officially goes live in April, will be showcased to delegates at the international MIPIM property conference, which takes place in Cannes next week.

The Government has introduced enterprise zones as a vehicle to stimulate private sector investment and drive economic growth. The zone will offer a package of benefits to stimulate investment, attract business and create new jobs.

These include reduced business rates and simplified planning regulations.

All four sites within the 142 hectare Aire Valley enterprise zone – Newmarket Lane, Thormes Farm, Logic Leeds and Temple Green – have planning consents in place for a range of employment uses.

The sites are located along the route of the £32m East Link Leeds Road, which links Leeds city centre to junction 45 of the M1.

Landowners and developers including Evans Property Group, Muse, Keyland, Wilton Developments and Leeds City Council, are working together to accelerate work on the project.

Mr Crompton said the Aire Valley enterprise zone was ideal for development as it had infrastructure in place.

He said: “The enterprise zone is a great spot for logistics and manufacturing. It will allow us to harness its positive ingredients such as broadband, planning incentives and rates relief for small business owners, to create a successful site.

“What we’re gearing up to do on site is the early infrastructure work so when pre-lets move we’ve got an oven ready scheme.”

Mr Crompton said that development in the current climate on the site would be dependent on pre-lets being agreed rather than speculative development taking place.

“Now’s not the time to speculate,” he said. “We’ve been going as a company for 28 years and this is the third recession (the company has been through).

“Having said that, I would be disappointed if we’re not on site this time next year (for development). But we’ve got the capability to be on site tomorrow if the market turns.”

Mr Crompton said that although the enterprise zone site would be ideal for large scale warehousing and distribution occupiers looking for easy access to the motorway networks, an aim of the project was to attract specialist occupiers.

A vision for the scheme is for it to become an advanced and hi-tech manufacturing site, he said.

“If you pick out some of the sectors that the Leeds City Region is good at and would want to pin-point for the enterprise zone then advanced manufacturing is one.

“It would be wonderful to bring opportunities like that to the park. Part of the site could be earmarked for really hi-tech manufacturing and other parts might be for more traditional industries.”

Other target sectors for the enterprise zone include health technologies, low carbon manufacturing, renewable energy and waste management.

Mr Crompton, who will take part in a panel discussion during MIPIM exploring the investment and growth opportunities in the Leeds City Region, said the international property conference was an ideal platform to raise the profile of schemes such as the enterprise zone.

Neil McLean, chairman of the Leeds City Region local enterprise partnership, said when fully developed the enterprise zone could deliver £550m of additional economic output and more than 9,500 new jobs by 2025.

A delegation of public and private sector partners, led by Mr McLean, will attend the MIPIM 2012 convention, which takes place between March 6th and 9th.

Published with permission of TheBusinessDesk.com

Flagship projects including Bradford’s new City Park, the new Leeds Arena and the £350 million Trinity Leeds retail and leisure development will also be showcased during the week.

A delegation of public and private sector partners will attend the MIPM 2012 convention. Neil McLean, Chair of the Leeds City Region local enterprise partnership (LEP), will head the delegation, alongside representatives from Irwin Mitchell and Addleshaw Goddard.

Muse Developments, Evans of Leeds and Keyland – key landowners and developers within the Aire Valley Leeds enterprise zone – are also sponsoring the city region delegation.

The delegation has a full programme over the three day event and will use a series of developer and investor forums, private dinners and a keynote breakfast briefing to promote the city region internationally and to engage with investors. More than 4,000 potential investors are expected to attend MIPIM 2012.

Speakers include Ashley Blake, Director of Retail Portfolio for Land Securities, Matt Crompton, Joint Managing Director, Muse Developments and Stephen Kennard, Director of Land and Development at the London Development Agency.

Exhibition stand sessions during MIPIM 2012 will also enable delegates to find out more about opportunities presented by the Aire Valley Leeds enterprise zone and Bradford’s city centre ‘growth zone’, which offer a package of incentives designed to stimulate investment, attract business and create jobs.

Delegates will also be able to find out more about the Leeds large casino licence which recently went out to the market and is attracting widespread interest from potential operators and developers.

The Leeds City Region stand will be situated in the Palais des Festivals (Level 01, Stand No.16.16/18.3) and will be fully equipped with wifi and meeting areas to enable delegates to use it as a business hub

Jean Dent, interim chief executive of Marketing Leeds, which is coordinating the city’s presence at MIPIM, said:

“MIPIM plays an important role in demonstrating the strength of the city region’s offer on an international stage and allows us to engage directly with a significant number of key investors. Our stand events and seminars are now a respected element of the MIPIM programme and I am delighted that the private sector is once again working with us to create a high profile programme that will create maximum impact and help attract investment to Leeds and the city region.”

Neil McLean added: “MIPIM provides an excellent opportunity to promote and attract investment to our city region and our cities have joined forces once more to showcase the diversity of investment opportunities .

The Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone, Bradford’s Growth Zone, the arena, and the casino license are examples of major investment opportunities and will  demonstrate that the city region is a substantial and growing economy with plenty to offer despite the challenging economic times.

The Leeds City Region is a strong and successful economy with a diverse business base, skilled workforce and a cost effective property market. We are the ideal location for investment and we intend  to make a compelling case for the city region to as many of the 20,000 potential investors and key decision makers as possible.

Leeds City Region is the largest English city region outside London, with a £53 billion economy that generates 5% of UK GVA. It is home to a resident population of 3 million, over 100,000 businesses and has the largest concentration of universities in Europe.

The enterprise zone, scheduled to go live from the beginning of April, covers four development ready sites along the route of the East Leeds Link Road, a new dual carriageway connecting Leeds city centre to the M1 and the national motorway network.

Companies locating in the area of the enterprise zone, coveringa total of 142 hectares of development land, will be able to benefit from a range of incentives including reduced business rates and a fast track planning regime designed to speed up development of the area, attract investment and create jobs.

Planning permissions are already in place with landowners and developers poised to deliver high quality and bespoke business premises to suit full range of requirements, from 10,000 sq ft up to 1 million sq ft.

Retail is also poised for a major boost across the Leeds City Region with the success of Bradford’s Regional Growth Fund bid which will see £35 million invested in the regeneration of Bradford centre, creating a growth zone to attract new businesses and boost jobs.

The growth zone will complement the completion in early 2012 of the new six-acre City Park, a key component of Bradford’s regeneration featuring a 4,000sq m mirror pool and 100ft fountain, the UK’s largest urban water feature.

The City Park has been designed to have a positive impact by making Bradford city centre more attractive to residents, visitors and businesses over the long term.

In Leeds, construction work on Land Securities’ new Trinity Leeds retail and leisure development – the largest development of its kind in Europe – is at an advanced stage and already 60 per cent pre-let.

Scheduled for completion in spring 2013, the opening will coincide with the curtain going up on the new Leeds Arena, also currently under construction. Together, two developments will provide a major boost to the economy and profile of Leeds and the wider city region on an international stage.

Leeds is the largest of eight local authorities in the UK to be granted a large casino licence, and the opportunity is already attracting widespread interest from potential operators and developers. With the licence due to be granted in early 2013, when the Leeds Arena and Trinity Leeds are also scheduled for completion, the large casino will be a major addition to Leeds’ leisure and evening economy.

Neil McLean, chair of the LCR local enterprise partnership who has led the delegation, said: “MIPIM has provided an invaluable opportunity to meet, share ideas and build relationships with civic and political leaders across Europe, and in particular with Barcelona.

“It has also provided a platform to engage with major players in the private sector and galvanise them behind the LEP agenda of creating a better environment for business.

“The Leeds City Region has an economy worth over £51 billion per annum – to give it some sense of scale that’s bigger than the economies of nine European countries. Being present as a city region last year and again at MIPIM 2011 represents a real step change because it means you have the scale and the size to compete with other European city regions present at MIPIM.”

Martin Farrington, Leeds City Council’s acting director of city development, said the Leeds City Region is at a key moment in its development:

“Major projects such as the Leeds Arena, the Eastgate Quarters retail development by Hammerson in Leeds, the new Hepworth Gallery and Trinity Walk developments in Wakefield clearly demonstrate the role local authorities can play as ‘civic entrepreneur’.

“By using our powers, assets and land holdings as a catalyst for regeneration, we can leverage significant additional private investment and, with our partners in the private sector, transform our towns and cities.”

The approach is central to plans for the redevelopment of Sovereign Street in Leeds where the council is currently in exclusive negotiations with leading professional advisory firm KPMG to build a new office headquarters.

Farrington explained: “The council will use the sale of development land to KPMG to fund development of high quality green space and public realm that in turn will accelerate the development of two further plots of land on the site at Sovereign Street.”

The same process is at work in Bradford where the £24 million City Park, now approaching completion, has been instrumental in securing the investment in a new headquarters building for Provident Financial and the New Victoria Place development by Langtree on the site of the former Odeon cinema.

The Leeds City Region presence at MIPIM has been co-ordinated by Marketing Leeds. Chief executive Deborah Green, said:

“Our involvement in the ‘UK Country of Honour’ programme has given us a centre stage presence and our profile has never been higher at MIPIM which, this year, has attracted 18,500 delegates from 90 countries around the world.

“Working with our private sector partners and sponsors, we’ve used a very targeted approach to meet with investors and developers. Through a focused programme of breakfast briefings, presentations on the Leeds City Region exhibition stand and business events we have reached a significant audience of very senior business people and major players in the development industry.

“The people we’ve met have been really enthusiastic and want to know more about opportunities for investment and development that the Leeds City Region presents.

“But MIPIM isn’t an end in itself. The real job now is to follow up, build and develop the contacts we’ve made into long term relationships that bring investment, growth and jobs to Leeds and the wider the city region.”