A couple of interesting emails have recently arrived in my inbox looking forward to spring 2010 and I can’t help but contrast them.
The first was from Nina Edge, of Liverpool’s Welsh Streets Home Group – a crew of residents fighting to save their houses demolition under the city’s bulldozer-happy Housing Market Renewal scheme. Their six-year battle (more of which at a later date) has just cranked up again after a few years of relative quiet and the council is threatening to move forward with the scheme in February.
She writes: “Down in the Welsh Streets we have just learnt that the consultants advising on the sustainability of the streets have recommended the demolition of the whole site – including Kelvin Grove, High Park Street and Admiral Street. This is despite previous advice from a heritage assessment that these three streets should be retained, despite the credit crunch, and despite the known interest in the existing houses.
“The Welsh Streets Home Group continues to oppose the proposals to demolish and welcomes any support any of our supporters would like to offer. We are told to expect the council to make a planning application as early as February next year so time is short and the job-sheet is long.”
Spring is going to be a busy period for Liverpool’s regeneration bods. Because, it transpires, a bunch of them will be jetting to the beautiful town of Cannes, in France, to sit on a yacht, networking with – and offering what they call some ‘traditional Liverpool hospitality’ to – a slew of developers hoping to get their hands on interesting sites and contracts across the world.
Which brings me to email number two. A couple of weeks ago, a housing contact told me about an event that I’ve never heard of before, but which he is disgusted by. MIPIM [Marché International des Professionnels d’Immobilier] is billed as “a market for international property trade”.
He wrote: “By the way, while I’ve (hopefully!) got your attention, one thing that really should get critical coverage is the international real estate shindig that is held in Cannes every year.
“I find something distasteful in the way councils and developers get together on yachts and do deals to carve up our cities for profit. While people in L7 lose their homes, Liverpool Council have a yacht there every year.
“Housing/development professionals might be aware of MIPIM but in my experience not many academics or community-minded people know about it. It usually happens in March about the time of year when the new council tax bills are being sent out…! Anyway enough ranting for now.”
I must stress here that this is NOT just a Liverpool thing – cities across the UK, and the world, get involved. (Neither is it connected, as such, with Housing Market Renewal or other similar regeneration schemes). My contact’s ire was particularly reserved for the Scousers though as that just happens to be where he knows.
Other UK cities that get involved include Sheffield, Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham.
Liverpool MIPIM has its own dedicated website which allows companies to sponsor its delegation. It explains: “Liverpool has attended MIPIM since 2001 and during this time has successfully showcased the city’s resurgence and rich cultural heritage, promoted investment opportunities and helped to drive future developments.”
Julian Dobson, editorial director of New Start, a magazine I contribute to quite a bit, had some interesting thoughts about MIPIM when it was taking place earlier this year. Check out his blog post on the subject HERE. His two top thoughts are especially pertinent:
I’d be really interested in knowing what other people think about this….
Comments are closed.