Crewe to take centre stage at UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum

Crewe will take centre stage at this year’s UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum as Cheshire East Council heads to Leeds for the three-day premier event (20-22 May).

With devolution plans advancing, Cheshire East Council will be attending alongside Warrington Borough and Cheshire West and Chester councils to showcase the scale of the investment and growth opportunities that are available across the region.  

Cheshire East Council’s own agenda for the event will put the spotlight firmly on Crewe – with a private roundtable secured with attendees from organisations including Muse, The Royal Town Planning Institute, The Berkeley Group, Mid Cheshire NHS Hospitals Foundation Trust, Nuveen Real Estate, Related Argent, Arcadis, Inner Circle Consulting, Keele University, West Coast Partnership Development and the National Wealth Fund, as well as the Government Property Agency, and the Cabinet Office. 

Participants will consider how Crewe’s existing strengths and 360º hub station, planned investment – including the green-lit £1bn Leighton Hospital redevelopment – and a potential devolution agreement can be leveraged to cement Crewe’s position as gateway to the North and help the town to reach its ‘city potential’.  

Council delegates – including the leader and deputy leader, chief executive and officers from the Place directorate – have also been invited to take part in a variety of other roundtable and panel discussions, with topics including planning reform, infrastructure and using innovation to unlock regeneration.  

Alongside this, the council will be discussing its ambitious plans for a bespoke new Garden Village at Handforth.  

In total, the council is expecting this year’s event will create more than 50 opportunities to promote the borough and discuss the opportunities available. 

Councillor Nick Mannion, leader of Cheshire East Council, will be attending day two of the event. He said:

“With Government officials and industry leaders in real estate, infrastructure, and investment all in attendance,  UKREiiF offers an unrivalled platform to demonstrate all that our region is already delivering and the opportunities that could be seized with a devolution agreement in place. 

“For us in Cheshire East, we’re embarking on an exciting journey of growth, regeneration and sustainability to deliver transformational change right across the borough and support our towns and local communities to prosper, including in our more rural areas. 

“We will put Crewe at the heart of these growth plans, showcasing its full potential as one of the best connected and most exciting investment opportunities in the UK – with the vast potential of the 360º hub station at the absolute core of this.” 

The council will be exhibiting on stand H20 in the Royal Armouries exhibition space.  

Cllr Michael Gorman, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council, who will also be attending for day two of the event, said:

“ UKREiiF is a place where conversations start to drive investment and regeneration in our regions. We have to be in these conversations, and we are delighted that Crewe will be taking centre stage at this year’s event. 

“Right now, Crewe is one of the most solid investment bets the country can offer, and people are really excited about it. 

“It already has transport links that rival most cities and its 360º hub station has the potential to transform regional and local economies, provide access to better jobs, homes and skills and help deliver Crewe’s and the wider borough’s full potential.  

“And now, with devolution on the horizon, we have the potential to unlock opportunities sooner rather than later. There is no better time to take a fresh look at our bold plans and join us in our ambition for the area.” 

Delegates from Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington will also be attending, as will Mid Cheshire NHS Hospitals Foundation Trust, which is leading plans to develop a new health and care neighbourhood in Crewe, which will include a new Leighton Hospital. 

Russ Favager is the Trust’s board senior responsible officer for Leighton new hospital programme and estates redevelopment. He said:

“The development of our health and care neighbourhood, including the new Leighton Hospital, is one of the biggest infrastructure projects seen in Cheshire for many years, and is fully supported by the government.  

“The Trust is very proud that our programme will be a major cornerstone for the development and regeneration of Crewe.” 

Cheshire East Council has secured sponsorship funding to cover the costs of the council’s attendance at UKREiiF . The Crewe roundtable is sponsored by the council’s transformation delivery partner, Inner Circle Consulting. 

Matt Christie, director – external relations and event programme at UKREiiF , said:

“The reimagining of Crewe fits hand in glove with the type of discussion we love to host at UKREiiF and the council should take huge plaudits for pulling together such an impressive array of participants for its roundtable debate.  

“The potential around Crewe is huge and we have already seen a plethora of investors and developers who have never operated in the town pique their interest due to the format of the session.” 

More information about the council's programme.