For the first time, London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan will attend Europe’s largest real estate conference later this year.
This decision is seen as an alignment with the Labour government’s focus on promoting economic growth, as he participates in MIPIM this March.
The four-day event in Cannes, situated on the French Riviera, serves as a platform for networking with global developers and property tycoons interested in investing in London.
Past mayors Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson leveraged the conference as an opportunity to advocate for London, but Sir Sadiq has opted out during his eight-year tenure until now.
With the capital facing a significant shortage of affordable housing, this event presents a chance for the mayor to connect with potential investors and developers who could assist in addressing this challenge.
Last year, Deputy Mayor Jules Pipe represented City Hall, while Darren Rodwell, the then leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, along with City Corporation leader Chris Hayward, led a delegation to promote the city under the “Opportunity London” initiative.
A source involved with the prior London promotional efforts, who requested anonymity, expressed disappointment over Sir Sadiq’s previous absence, saying, “He seemed hesitant to engage with developers, but it appears he now understands the value of this gathering, which is a positive step.”
Sir Keir Starmer has prioritized economic growth in his government’s agenda, thereby pushing mayors and local leaders to generate initiatives aimed at revitalizing their economies.
London’s Deputy Mayor for Business, Howard Dawber, is in the final stages of completing the city’s new “growth strategy,” which is set to be unveiled at the end of next month.
There are strong signs that the government will announce plans to revive the proposal for a third runway at Heathrow Airport, signaling its commitment to economic expansion.
Sir Sadiq has previously opposed the expansion, maintaining that his stance remains unchanged, citing the earlier judgment of the independent Climate Change Committee, which stated that a third runway would contradict net zero commitments and carbon emission goals.
While the specifics of Sir Sadiq’s agenda at MIPIM have yet to be finalized, it is expected to feature at least one significant speech at the primary London stand.
