Liverpool City Region to showcase £11 billion real estate opportunities to global investors

THE Liverpool City Region is heading to MIPIM 2025 with a bold ambition: to showcase £11 billion worth of transformative real estate projects to the world's biggest investors. From life sciences to sustainable housing, the Region will demonstrate why it is the best place to grow a business, grow a family, and grow a legacy.

The global investment conference, taking place from:- 11 March to 14 March 2025 in Cannes, France, is the world's leading real estate event. With over 20,000 delegates from 90 countries and investors managing an estimated £3.4 trillion in funds, it is an unrivalled opportunity to showcase the Liverpool City Region's investment potential to a global audience.

The Region's delegation will highlight major projects spanning sectors such as:- Health and Life Sciences, Advanced Manufacturing, Creative and Digital, and Maritime; key pillars of the City Region's thriving economy.

The event is a cornerstone of the Liverpool City Region Capital and Real Estate Investment Programme, an ongoing strategy to showcase the Region's investment potential at major industry events, including:- UKREiiF 2025 in Leeds in May.

The programme is a collaboration between:- the 6 local authorities, the Combined Authority, and strategic partners Starship Group and Peel Waters followed by private sector partners such as Liverpool BID, Knowledge Quarter Liverpool, Sci-Tech Daresbury, Atkins Realis, and ION Developments.

Among the dozens of projects on display at MIPIM are:-

• Maghull Health Park - A 30,000 sqm state of the art hub for digital and lab spaces, aiming to become a national centre of excellence for mental health research.
  

• Paddington South, Knowledge Quarter Liverpool - The latest phase of the City's renowned life sciences and innovation district.
  

• Liverpool Waters by Peel L&P. An ambitious 30 year vision to transform the City's northern docks, creating a sustainable world class, high quality, mixed use waterfront.
  

• Wirral Waters - £4.5bn development for Birkenhead, Wirral - the the sister programme of the Liverpool Waters project.
  

• Festival Gardens Liverpool and Hind Street Urban Village (Birkenhead): Major housing developments to create vibrant new communities.
  

• Littlewoods Film Studios - A flagship project driving the growth of Liverpool's creative and digital economy.
  

• Bootle Town Centre transformation - Large scale regeneration projects delivering new homes, offices, and public spaces.

The Liverpool City Region Capital and Real Estate Investment Programme team will host a series of panel sessions and presentations over the 4 days at MIPIM, spotlighting key projects and highlighting sector strengths.

A particular emphasis will be placed on green infrastructure projects and sustainable development, reflecting the Region's commitment to achieving net zero by 2035.

The Region's attendance at MIPIM aligns with Mayor Steve Rotheram's ambition to boost foreign direct investment (FDI) into the Liverpool City Region by 25% by the end of the decade.

The £11 billion pipeline of opportunities showcased at the event is a key driver of this goal, demonstrating how the City Region is primed for growth and ready to attract international partners to help deliver transformational projects.

The collaboration and attendance at MIPIM comes at a time of significant transformation in the Liverpool City Region. Recent milestones include:-

The development of the Life Sciences Innovation Zone, set to attract £800 million in investment and create 8,000 new jobs.

Major upgrades to transport infrastructure, including:- new rail stations, a £500m fleet of publicly owned trains, enhanced ferry services, and an integrated bus network.

The Liverpool City Region Capital and Real Estate Investment Programme is made possible through a strong public-private partnership, demonstrating how collaboration can drive investment and innovation to benefit the wider community.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:- "MIPIM is about putting investment opportunities in the Liverpool City Region on the global stage and making sure the world knows what we have to offer. We're here to do what our Region has always done best: build connections, strike deals, and deliver opportunities that change lives. Make no mistake about it, we are a global player, and if we want to bring investment home, we have to go where the investors are. MIPIM gives us the chance to showcase £11bn worth of opportunities to some of the world's biggest players. Conversations there can lead to growth here. My ambition is to boost foreign direct investment into our Region by 25% by the end of the decade. But it's only through hard graft that we are able to bring jobs, investment, and opportunity back to our communities. We're building a Liverpool City Region that's fit for the future; the best place to grow up, grow a family, and grow a business - and we're looking for partners who want to help us make that vision a reality."

Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said:- "Liverpool and our wider Region is the land of opportunity. The ability and ambition to deliver transformational schemes is clear for all to see. The volume of projects in the pipeline shows how much confidence the private sector has in Liverpool as a City that can do business and deliver unique results. MIPIM is a great showcase to illustrate how all our growth sectors and industries are beginning to fire on all cylinders. We're excited to share our plans and vision for what can and will be achieved here. Liverpool's time has come. And we can't wait to welcome new partners in the writing of the next chapter in our success story."

Chris Capes, Development Director at Liverpool Waters said:- "Peel Waters are waterside regeneration specialists, and we have some fantastic development opportunities across both sides of the river Mersey. We are looking forward to once again working with the LCR delegation at MIPIM to attract inward investment for the continued regeneration and economic growth of the Region."

Dave Dargan CEO of Strategic Partner Starship Group said:- "This event is a fantastic opportunity to showcase a world class City Region on a world class stage. We are already a national leader in delivering zero carbon and zero bills' homes using advanced manufacturing which is 1 of the most exciting emerging sectors in the City Region. This event provides an opportunity for us to attract further investment which will accelerate delivery in some of the City Region's most exciting developments. The opportunities that exist across the Liverpool City Region rival anything across Europe and are looking forward to working with the team at Liverpool City Region to get projects funded and launched this year."

Colin Sinclair, CEO of Sciontec and KQ Liverpool, said:- "Knowledge Quarter Liverpool will be the engine room for delivery of LCR Innovation Zone projects, dovetailing with our ambitions to develop 1 million sq ft of new office and laboratory space in our innovation district over the next 15 years. It's crucial, therefore, that we take the opportunity to represent the City Region on a global stage at MIPIM and other events throughout the year. We look forward to working closely with the Mayor, Invest Liverpool City Region Partnership and other key stakeholders to amplify the incredible strengths and opportunities that exist here in health and life sciences, the materials supercluster, digital technologies, robotics and AI."

UKHSA warns of potential 2nd Norovirus wave in the North West England
Photo by E.L. Palmer, USCDCP on Pixnio.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is urging people to help prevent the spread of Norovirus in the North West of England, as there latest data shows that people who have already had the virus could be at risk of catching it again.

The UKHSA latest national Norovirus Surveillance Report shows that Norovirus continues to circulate at high levels, and new data has revealed a shift in circulating strains. This means you could catch Norovirus more than once as you can be infected by 1 and will have limited immunity if you are then exposed to a different 1 soon after.

With NHS England North West reporting a record number of Norovirus patients in Hospitals across the Region, health professionals are raising awareness of the symptoms of the virus and reminding people of the simple steps they can take to stop spreading the infection:-

• Stay home for 48 hours after symptoms clear.
  

• Wash hands with soap and warm water.
  

• Don't prepare food for others.

Norovirus, commonly known as the winter vomiting bug (although it can strike at any time of year), is a stomach bug that causes sickness and diarrhoea and also a high temperature, abdominal pain and aching limbs.

The virus spreads easily through communities and so outbreaks are common in settings where individuals have close contact such as Hospitals, care homes, schools and nurseries.

For most people this is an unpleasant, short-lived illness and they make a full recovery without needing any medicine. However, some groups - including:- young children, the elderly or those with weakened immunity - are at risk of suffering more serious and prolonged illness, which may require medical treatment.

Dr Merav Kliner, Regional Deputy Director of UKHSA North West, said:- "Norovirus levels are still exceptionally high and now with multiple genotypes spreading at the same time, people could end up getting infected more than once this season. We are seeing the biggest impacts in health and social care settings, such as Hospitals and care homes. Symptoms of Norovirus can be more severe in older adults, young children and those who are immunocompromised. If you have diarrhoea and vomiting, please do not visit Hospitals and care homes or return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped and don't prepare food for others, as you can still pass on the virus during this time. Alcohol gels do not kill Norovirus. Wash your hands with soapy warm water and clean surfaces with bleach based products where possible to help stop infections from spreading."

NHS England North West's Regional Medical Director, Dr Michael Gregory said:- "Seasonal illness including:- Norovirus is continuing to put pressure on NHS services and it's important we all take steps to avoid passing on infection. Norovirus symptoms, including:- vomiting and diarrhoea, usually resolve within:- 2 to 3 days and you can usually treat it at home. The most important thing is to have lots of fluids to avoid dehydration. You can help stop spread by washing your hands with soapy warm water. NHS 111 is an excellent option for healthcare support and advice on non-emergency health problems. It can direct you to the most appropriate local treatment, whether that's your GP, a pharmacy, a callback from a nurse, or an urgent walk in treatment centre. However, in an emergency, such as when someone is seriously ill or injured, people should still call:- 999 or visit A&E."

Find out more:-

• Read more about why Norovirus is reporting so high at the moment in our latest news story.
  

• View the National Norovirus Report here.
  

• Visit the NHS.UK webpage on Norovirusfor useful information, including:- symptoms, how to treat it, and how to stop it spreading.