One arrived at this year’s MIPIM with some apprehension. How many people would be there? Would there be enough going on in the post-COVID world to make the annual trek to Cannes worthwhile? 

 

In the event it was busy, not as busy as in 2019, but felt it was making a good recovery after two year’s closure. The lower numbers had their benefits - like the West End these days, you can cross the road without being run down, there was plenty of space on the stands and hotel rooms were easier to find.

 

Sadly, we Brits didn’t do a great job in selling UK plc. A diminutive Government stand, no Manchester, London stand half the size and city and regional stands dotted randomly round the fair. The RIBA did rather well having rolled over their 2020 booking so that they were by far the largest exhibitor on the London stand with a cohort of enthusiastic young architects adding a bit of energy to the space. Meanwhile, the Paris stand next door, full of pre-Olympic optimism, was buzzing.

 

Club Peloton’s Cycle to Cannes, according to veterans, was one of the toughest rides since 2006 in spite of having an extra day to complete the 1500km. The numbers were lower than previous years, but morale was high.

Opportunity London, put together by NLA with London and Partners, LCA, City of London, Mayor of London and London’s Councils made up for the lacklustre stand. The Opportunity London report and website underlined the role of the Boroughs in driving economic growth, highlighting their top sites for investment, growth and renewal. Darren Rodwell, the charismatic Leader of Barking and Dagenham and Deputy Chair of Londons Councils, probably held the record for the most numbers of panels sat on during the week. Duracell Darren championed London and his own borough tirelessly throughout the Palais des Festivals.
 

In the absence of Sadiq Khan, Deputy Mayor for Planning Jules Pipe put on a good show. He had a high profile and spoke strongly on key issues: “I do believe that world cities like London are setting the agenda for governments around the world. London is an active participant in M10, C40, the Urban 20, World Cities Culture Forum - powerful networks of innovative and progressive city leadership”. He said London was sending market signals about the GLA’s commitment to net zero, mobilising green finance and green skills - “a policy framework that gives people certainty for investment”.

 

The other star of the week was Juliemma McLoughlin, director of Environment in the City of London. “We want to be a destination that people come to and spend time in,” she said. “The City has more churches than Venice. Not a lot of people know that. Why would you go to Venice? Come to the City and spend a whole day there! The City is still business-led,” she reassured her audience, “but we also need to engage with workers, visitors and residents.”

 

In the 12 months before the next bash, we’ve all got to get together to put on a better face for Britain - Government and Metro Mayors, local councils, organisations like NLA, CPA and WPA collaborating to deliver a coherent message about our place in the fast changing global economy.