NOMA takes centre stage at MIPIM 2024 European Cities event

10 April 2024

NOMA, Manchester’s growing neighbourhood, teamed up with leading European regional cities Leipzig and Porto to share ideas and strategies at the global urban development event MIPIM in Cannes, France.

The session, ‘Beyond the Capital’, on the Manchester stand, explored the strategies regional cities, developers and place-makers are taking to grow, attract investment, talent and provide opportunities for its people.

Joining Dan Hyde, from MEPC, Development Director at NOMA on the panel, were Joanne Roney OBE, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, Michael Koerner, Managing Director of Invest Region Leipzig and Councillor Pedro Baganha, Deputy Mayor for Urbanism. Public Space and Housing.

Opening the session Dan described how MEPC’s approach at NOMA is driven by its commitment to creating meaningful and distinctive places which provide long term and positive change, generating commercial success and social good.

He said: “Manchester is such an exciting place to be. It’s a testament to the power and potential of regional cities to continue to innovate and grow, a philosophy we have mirrored at NOMA which is in an exciting new phase of evolution.

“Here, we’re regenerating the neighbourhood, investing in market-leading sustainable offices, and supporting the community to help businesses grow stronger; people grow together and the city to grow its status. Wherever we can, we look to achieve a positive social impact.

“And we do that through driving an approach we call purposeful placemaking.”

Alongside the investment in new office space at NOMA, including the recently launched 4 Angel Square, which sets a new benchmark sustainability and deployment of Smart technology, MEPC has launched a number of innovative social initiatives including ‘Plant’, the city gardening project, and most recently Altogether Otherwise, a pioneering new community space for the people of Manchester to come together and learn new hobbies and share pursuits.

Ahead of the global cities discussion, NOMA showcased a film celebrating Manchester’s unique offer as a place to live, work and invest.

Featuring voices from across the city including: Randel Bryan from Factory International, Michele Steel, CEO of the built environment charity Regeneration Brainery, poet and author Esther Koch, creative urbanist Ben Young, founder of Altogether Otherwise, Ciaron Wilkinson from Manchester City Council and Pete Swift, co-founder of Planit-IE, the urban and rural place design practice, the film can be viewed at the end of this story.

Joanne Roney OBE, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council said: “Manchester is constantly evolving and growing. For us, it’s been about understanding our strengths and building our place. In terms of strategy, it’s been about supporting innovation and culture and investing in connectivity.

“As a city region, we are always thinking about what comes next and alongside the growth of brilliant places like NOMA, we are looking forward to the regeneration of Strangeways, of Holt Town in East Manchester and Wythenshawe, further outside the city centre.”