What’s Changed Six Months on from MIPIM?
Last weekend’s biblical rainfall in Manchester may seem like a thing of the distant past now but it brought back plenty of memories of this year’s MIPIM. March’s conference was, indeed, one of the wettest in recent memory, but it didn’t dampen the atmosphere inside the Manchester stand.
We joined Marketing Manchester’s delegation this year, and the MM team stole two minutes with Euan amidst his umbrella dashes between keynote speeches and canapés. You can listen in, below, as Euan shared his thoughts on the conference and what it means for Greater Manchester.
Fast forward six months, we’re asking if anything has changed since March.
A political storm after the calm
There’s been some significant political change in recent weeks, after what was a relatively stable first year in government for the Labour party (planning-wise, at least).
Angela Rayner’s departure from the front bench meant we lost her in her capacity as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. It’s a real loss for the sector; Rayner was a breath of fresh air who understood, through first hand experience, the value of social housing and the importance of solving the housing crisis. Her role as deputy prime minister brought a prominence to the department that hasn’t arguably been seen since John Prescot held the equivalent role in 2002. Her replacement, Steve Reed, has big shoes to fill.
Local plan progress across the board
Since its adoption in 2024, all nine local authorities within the Places for Everyone framework have been busily working on their own local plans. But 2025 seems to have been the year where progress has caught real momentum. Stockport, too, has also recognised the importance of getting its own plan in place and has made good progress.
Seven local authorities have run a public consultation on their emerging local plan since March, or are imminently about to:
Bury Local Plan: consultation on draft closed May 2025
Tameside’s Homes, Spaces, Places: consultation on options closed June 2025
Wigan Borough Local Plan: consultation on draft closed June 2025.
Bolton Local Plan: consultation on options is currently open until 2 Oct
Manchester Local Plan: consultation on draft plan currently open until 17 Nov
Trafford Local Plan Policies & Allocations: consultation currently open until 3 Nov
Stockport Local Plan: consultation on draft expected Oct 2025
Greater Manchester’s “deeper” devolution
Greater Manchester’s mission to secure deeper devolution has also taken an important step forward. In April, the agreed Integrated Settlement consolidated around £630m of existing annual funding into a single, flexible pot.
Reflections shared by GMCA’s Andrew McIntosh at the recent Place North GM Development Update event hearalded this shift in GM’s funding model as a huge step in the right direction, albeit one that “only scratches the surface”. There is clearly more to be done on this front, to truly give Greater Manchester autonomy on spending decisions and boost growth.
What’s not changed?
We’re still waiting for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to gain Royal Assent and for the inevitable secondary legislation to come. And that means we’re still yet to see any improvements to the decision making process such as greater delegation powers.
But, on a more positive note, we still see plenty of exciting, proactive collaboration across Greater Manchester. A prime example is the work being carried out to draw up a strategic regeneration framework for Strangeways and Cambridge, which crosses the boundary between Manchester and Salford.
Unlocking this key growth area will have a significant and positive impact on the city core’s evolution. So it’s a huge deal that both councils are working together, beyond their boundaries, to enable the site to come forward comprehensively.
What are your thoughts?
In the six months since MIPIM in March, what changes have you seen across the property and construction sector? What did you see coming and what has surprised you?
Take a listen to Euan’s MIPIM reflections, below.
