City promises ‘bigger and better’ presence at global property showcase
Pictured at the Manchester at MIPIM 2026 Programme Launch are, from left, Tom Stannard, Caroline Simpson, Bev Craig (speaking), and host Victoria Braddock(Image: Alistair Houghton)
Get on board the Piccadilly underground project to help make it a reality – that was the message to business leaders as they prepared to head to global regeneration showcase MIPIM.
The city region will again be heading in force to the Riviera property showcase in March to pitch for investment and showcase the city’s business success.
The Manchester at MIPIM 2026 programme was formally launched at a city centre showcase on Wednesday. Subjects set to be discussed in Cannes range from Northern Powerhouse Rail to the new Old Trafford Mayoral Development Corporation, while there will also be debates about other communities including Stockport and Middleton.
Victoria Braddock, managing director of Marketing Manchester, told the audience at the MIPIM showcase at Mollie’s in Quay Street that the city was still committed to promoting itself at MIPIM. She said: “Last year you couldn’t escape Manchester and were hoping this year will be even bigger and better.”
She then led a debate about Manchester’s MIPIM 2026 – in which she asked panellists including Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig what they thought were the key enablers for growth.
City leaders have long called for the development of an underground hub at Manchester Piccadilly as part of plans for high-speed rail through the city, both for the aborted HS2 line and for the planned east-west Northern Powerhouse Rail. As well as improving long-distance connections to and through the city, the station could also become a hub for new underground Metrolink tunnels.
The Government is now reviewing plans for an underground Piccadilly, with a report due later this year. Bev Craig told the MIPIM gathering that the underground proposal was vital for the city.
Cllr Craig said: “You can’t underestimate the impact the transformation of Piccadilly station could have.” She welcomed the Government’s commitment to examine the proposal, saying: “It’s as close as we’ve ever been to be able to service that underground station.”
And addressing the business and property leaders in the room, she said: “We’re going to need quite a lot of your help to get that project over the line.”
Tom Stannard, chief executive at Manchester City Council, added that “There is a real opportunity for the private sector to stick with us on the journey, pardon the pun.”
He told Wednesday’s meeting that officials were working hard on the proposals and that politicians and business leaders alike needed to stay on the same page to show support for the scheme.
He said the message should be that this is far more than an infrastructure project – and that it has a “multiplier for what it will produce for the Piccadilly area, for Greater Manchester, and for the wider North.”