Speaker programme
Follow our people as we take our expertise to the stages of MIPIM.
Tuesday 11 March
DESCRIPTION
The revised NPPF published in December 2024 will take a different, growth-focused approach to planning in order to support sustained economic growth. Changes include:
- making the standard method for assessing housing needs mandatory, requiring local authorities to plan for the resulting housing need.
- Councils are required to take a brownfield-first approach, review their green-belt boundaries to meet mandatory housing targets and identify and prioritise low quality grey belt land.
- development on green-belt land must adhere to the government’s “golden rules” requiring developers to provide necessary infrastructure as well as a premium level of social and affordable housing.
The panel looks at the changes, debates the implications for the industry and discusses whether they will help to stimulate the economic growth the country needs in London.
SPEAKERS
Laura Jenkinson, Principal, Avison Young
Dr Victoria Hills, Chief Executive, Royal Town Planning Institure
Jo Negrini, Director, Cities, Planning and Design, Arup
Sarah Bevan, Director, Planning and Development, BusinessLDN
Katie Stewart, Executive Director, Environment, City of London Corporation
DESCRIPTION
This panel discussion will delve into the transformative role of devolution and metro mayors in shaping the future of UK towns and cities, asking how public-private partnerships can unlock new opportunities for regeneration, creating vibrant places while delivering meaningful benefits for local communities. Sponsored by Avison Young.
SPEAKERS
Chair: Nick Walkley, Principal and UK President, Avison Young
Pam Smith, Chief Executive, Newcastle City Council
Caroline Simpson, Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Melanie Leech, Chief Executive, British Property Federation
Katherine Fairclough, Chief Executive, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
DESCRIPTION
This session will provide an update on the development of the Strangeways Strategic Regeneration Framework with insight from international peers that have master planned similar projects, looking at defining and transforming city edges.
SPEAKERS
Chair: Stephen O’Malley, CEO and Founding Director, Civic Engineers
Kimberley Grieveson, Principal, Avison Young
Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council
Cllr Jack Youd, Deputy Mayor, Salford City Council
Linda Thiel, Director of London Studio, White Arkhitects
DESCRIPTION
With HS2 due to connect Birmingham to London in less than 45 mins, driving a projected £10bn boost to the West Midlands economy over a decade, the region has already seen a 66% increase in planning applications, reflecting huge investment appetite across the UK’s best connected region.
This panel will discuss how transport infrastructure – HS2 and beyond - is underpinning investment patterns across the West Midlands, including Birmingham’s established position as the largest BtR hub outside the capital and major regen schemes such as Coventry City Centre South. The regions connectivity advantage is fuelling rapid demographic changes as people re-locate and their skills are bringing forward a flurry of innovation-led investment opportunities coming to the market including the Coventry’s Greenpower park and the £3.2bn Arden Cross scheme at HS2 Interchange.
SPEAKERS
Mel Williams, Global Head of Real Estate, DWF
Dr Julie Nugent, CEO of Coventry City Council and representing the West Midlands region
Helen Collins, Principal & Managing Director, Birmingham, Avison Young
Maggie Grogan, Managing Director, Muse
Wednesday 12 March
DESCRIPTION
Sponsored by Avison Young, this breakfast brings together leading U.K. and international investors, with key contacts in U.K. local and national government. Invited guests include investors, property companies and developers, and senior stakeholders from the U.K. Government, regional Combined Authorities and Local Authorities from across the U.K.
SPEAKERS
Nick Walkley, U.K. President, Avison Young
Melanie Leech CBE, Chief Executive, British Property Federation
Thursday 13 March
DESCRIPTION
This session hosted by MIPIM, World Economic Forum and Avison Young offers a hands-on approach to using the Social Value Playbook in urban development.
The focus is on actionable insights for implementing social value strategies in real-world projects. After an introduction to social value principles, selected regeneration projects will enter real-time collaborative round tables with public and private stakeholders—developers, mayors, and leaders— focusing on strategies for long-term impact. Audience members will learn practical applications of the playbook by shadowing live brainstorming sessions at these tables.
SPEAKERS
Eime Tobari, Global Director, Social Impact, Avison Young