£2bn of Derby and Derbyshire projects put in the spotlight at MIPIM

Investors from across the globe heard about the £2 billion worth of investment opportunities that exist across Derby and Derbyshire at this year’s MIPIM.

Team Derby and Derbyshire, made up of members of Marketing Derby’s inward investment team, along with public and private sector officials, were recently in Cannes, flying the flag for the city and county at what is regarded as the biggest property investment show in the world.

It was the first time MIPIM had been held as a physical event since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020.

As part of the UK Government Pavilion, Team Derby and Derbyshire showcased a number major development schemes, detailed in the Derby Investment Prospectus – and the all-new Derbyshire Investment Prospectus, which combined present over £2 billion of investment opportunities.

John Forkin, managing director of Marketing Derby, said: “It was good to be able to pitch our investment case after a three-year gap.

“The Derby and Derbyshire Investment Prospectuses turned out to be perfect for outlining the detail of the £2 billion of opportunities and the UK Government Pavilion is proving to be the perfect platform.”

The recently updated Derby Investment Prospectus showcases 16 key investment opportunities across the city, worth £1.2 billion.

And the Derbyshire Investment Prospectus, produced by Marketing Derby’s Invest in Derbyshire service, on behalf of Derbyshire County Council and Derbyshire Economic Partnership, details over £1 billion key regeneration opportunities across the county.

In total, 23 projects are featured in the Derbyshire prospectus, spanning the length and breadth of the county.

These range from major sites which will help drive economic prosperity and support a growing population, to smaller projects at the heart of communities.

Many of the schemes from both prospectuses were highlighted in a special event, which took place at MIPIM, called Project Assemble: The £2bn Investment Atlas for Derby and Derbyshire.

At the event, which took place at the UK Government Pavilion, Mr Forkin was joined by keynote speaker Paul Simpson, chief executive of Derby City Council, Marketing Derby chairman Bob Betts and Rachel Campbell, deputy director for Regeneration and Urban Policy at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, to talk through the latest announcements on up-and-coming investment opportunities in Derby and Derbyshire.

Topics covered included investment into the University of Derby’s City Hub Masterplan, Derby’s Heart of the City mixed-use development and opportunities at the Heart of Chesterfield.

The audience were also shown a suite of new films, which have been produced to promote Derbyshire as a place to live, work, play and invest.

Mr Simpson said: “MIPIM was a great opportunity to meet with current and prospective investors in the city, as well as key advisors in government.

“Derby has a really strong message, and it was really useful to be able to share this face-to-face.”

Team Derby and Derbyshire also hosted a roundtable event, featuring a number of top panellists, who discussed how economic growth can be sustainable.

Mr Forkin said: “Our events this year were on a smaller scale than before as the exhibition begins its post-pandemic rebuild.

“But we were pleasantly surprised by the level of access we got to developers, agents and senior government officials.

“Some UK cities were not there, which, to a certain extent, created a space which we were happy to fill.”

Following MIPIM, Marketing Derby held a special breakfast event for its Bondholders, where it gave the inside track on Team Derby and Derbyshire’s activities at MIPIM.

Among the speakers was Carl Longworth, director of estates at the University of Derby, who shared more details on its City Hub Masterplan.

To view the Derby Investment Prospectus, please click here.

To view the new Derbyshire Investment Prospectus, please click here.

To watch the Invest in Derbyshire films, please click here.

To find out the latest investment updates in Derby and Derbyshire follow us on Twitter at @InvestinDerby.