Greater Manchester Economic Growth and Development Conference

Greater Manchester Combined Authority – Eamonn Boylan, Chief Executive

As an enabler of regeneration and investment across Greater Manchester’s boroughs, the combined authority are at the forefront of the ‘levelling up’ agenda. At the top of the organisation, Eamonn has prioritised creating healthier, more sustainable and smarter cities as part of their “Places for Everyone” vision. Eamonn will speak about how they are leading the charge in unlocking new regeneration opportunities for investors and developers who share the Combined Authority’s vision and the investment going into creating an integrated transport system in the region through the latest devolution deal.

University of Manchester – Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice Chancellor

The University of Manchester is a global ambassador for the Greater Manchester region and its ongoing development and evolution key to underpinning the post-Covid recovery. With over a billion pounds being spent on the campus in order to meet the needs of students and world class research, Dame Nancy will share her thoughts on creating a healthier, smarter city region and how the University works globally to draw investment.

Muse – Phil Mayall, Regional Director

With more than £3.5bn pipeline in projects across the North including Salford and Stockport, Muse are a key driver of responsible growth and development in the region. Sustainability is one of their core focuses and the £1bn Salford Central scheme, and the £2.5bn Salford Crescent Masterplan they are bringing forward alongside the English Cities Fund are designed to be exemplars of sustainable development. Muse are also heavily involved with the ongoing transformation of Stockport, partnering with the council on the place-changing £145m Stockport Exchange scheme. Phil will discuss how their developments are contributing towards a sustainable and inclusive Greater Manchester and Northern Powerhouse.

Manchester City Council – Louise Wyman, Strategic Director for Growth

As Manchester City council bring forward a proposed £1bn investment into city centre living, Louise joins the event to talk about the multitude of plans the council has to revitalise and regenerate the neighbourhoods within the city limits. The council are also looking at ways to connect communities and foster economic growth by developing a ‘blue line’ of transportation and infrastructure using the cities various canal and river networks.

General Projects – Jacob Loftus, Founder and Chief Executive

An integral part of Manchester city’s placemaking strategy and what will be a catalyst for unlocking billions of pounds worth of GVA to the regional economy, General Projects are bringing forward the 500,000 sq ft Eastlands Campus scheme which is part of the East Manchester Masterplan. Jacob will talk about the key details behind the scheme, his passion for helping SME’s thrive as part of it’s long term future and important social value initiatives related to the project.

Founder and Managing Director – Michelle Rothwell, Managing Director

Manchester through and through, Watch This Space have organically grown their development portfolio across the North West and operate across the Retail, Commercial and Residential sectors. With four housing schemes set to be delivered in Manchester City centre and the Bridge Street Studios retail and office project coming forward, Michelle will talk about how Greater Manchester is supporting independent developers and how her organisation will be key to the post-Covid recovery.

Rochdale Council – Steve Rumbelow, Chief Executive

Rochdale is looking to bring forward hundreds of millions of pounds worth of regeneration in 2021 and will play an integral part in the wider build back better agenda of Greater Manchester. With 8000 new homes set to be brought forward by the council and the major South Heyward and Station Gateway masterplans in the offing, they intend to lead the way for the 10 boroughs in development.

Great Places Housing – Helen Spencer, Executive Director of Growth

Great Places Housing Group are one of the North’s leading social housing providers with over 24,000 homes across the North West and Yorkshire. They have ambitious plans and hope to deliver 11,000 new homes by 2030, across Greater Manchester, Lancashire and South Yorkshire. These will be delivered by a variety of means, with their long term relationship with Homes England and through the Bloc and Innovation Chain North West partnerships as well as their private sector development arm, Cube Great Places.

Your Housing Group – Richard Jones, Director of Growth

With tens of brownfield sites being brought forward for development by Your Housing Group in 2021, it will be a major year for growth at the company. They have recently announced 1,100 new homes in Newton Heath and hundreds of new units hoping to be constructed in Bolton and Wigan. Richard has a plethora of experience delivering major projects in the housing sector and will detail their strategy, timelines and innovative approach as part of the session.

Transport for Greater Manchester – Nicola Kane, Head of Strategic Planning, Insight and Innovation

With the Five Year Transport Delivery Plan officially adopted by Greater Manchester Combined Authority on 29^th January 2021, Nicola joins the conference to tell delegates what it means in the form of delivering regeneration and development across the 10 boroughs. This includes anticipated improvement to green infrastructure, roads, metro and rail links.

Trafford Housing Trust – Graeme Scott, Executive Director of Development

Trafford Housing Trust have plans to deliver 20,000 new homes in the next decade and see Cheshire as key county for growth. With several projects due to be launched in the coming six months, the first has been announced as 330 new homes and a new Lidl supermarket in South Preston as part of the wider 48-acre development at Penwortham Mills.  Graeme joins our panel to unveil key intel on their future pipeline in Cheshire and will also give a peek into wider schemes across the North West.

Public Sector Plc – Mark Ewing, Chief Financial Officer

Mark has more than 15 years’ experience in housing, property and land finance working for some of the largest names in residential and commercial property and regeneration, including Clarion, Peabody, Berkeley Homes, and Hammerson. Previously Head of Investment Finance at the UK’s largest housing association, Clarion Housing Group, Mark led on commercial negotiations and financing of land and development transactions across the country. He also played a key part in the overall financial strategy of Clarion, including the structuring of joint venture partnerships with developers and house builders, and the Group’s entry into the Build-to-Rent market.

Prior to that, Mark was a regional Finance Director at Berkeley Homes where he managed joint venture relationships with councils and delivered financial management and control of an operating business delivering large-scale prime residential projects across London, including One Tower Bridge, South Quay Plaza and Saffron Square. Mark joins Public Sector Plc from the Covent Garden Market Authority, the public corporation engaged in the complex redevelopment of the largest wholesale market in the UK at Nine Elms, Wandsworth.”

Built Environment Networking – Amanda Griffiths, Director

Amanda is one of the Co-Founder’s of Built Environment Networking – formed almost 10 years ago.

She’ll be hosting throughout the day, running the days proceedings and managing the interaction between our delegates and the speakers.

VU.CITY – Jon Roebuck, Regional Business Development Manager

Jon is the Regional  Business Development Manager at VU.CITY covering our cities in the North of England.

VU.CITY is a game-changing solution for urban development teams. Speeding up all aspects of the planning process from design concept stage right through to planning application submissions.

Their accurate 3D city models allow for collaborative and virtual feasibility and impact studies for proposed developments across 20+ cities in the UK and internationally.

Jon has previous experience in the built environment in Facilities Management, PropTech, and Placemaking.