Annual Council Visit to Cannes

Senior Officer travelling to property show by bike

For a number of years senior representatives from London Borough of Hounslow have attended Cannes each March for MIPIM, the world's biggest international property show.

In 2009 Hounslow Labour criticised Hounslow Conservatives for attending and in 2012 the reverse happened. Neighbours Ealing had a similar conflict in 2009 when Brendon Walsh took Ealing to MIPIM. Back then he was Director of Property and Regeneration for Ealing.

Now, as Director of Regeneration, Economic Development & Environment for Hounslow and is, once again attending the event.

He will be cycling for charity to Cannes. It's only 1,500km, and what's more, he did it last year. He takes holiday time for the six day gruelling ride which is done with 80 other cyclists attending MIPIM. A rare opportunity to cycle on close roads, it's also a character forming network event that allows you to make contacts in between breaths. The funds raised go to Coram who have been looking after children for over 300 years.

Once arrived in Cannes there are 4 days, 40,000 people, 30+ interactived debates, 350+ stalls, 10+ workshops, 14 topic-based breakfasts and lunches, 80+ project presentations and more. Those are just the official events. There are plenty more off programme.

Brendon Walsh will be accompanied by Cllr Jagdish Sharma, Leader of the council, Cllr Colin Ellar Deputy leader of the council and Heather Cheesbrough

What's in it for Hounslow? Last year Hounslow started the marketing process for Hounslow Town Centre at MIPIM, followed it up with advertising it in the European Journal, and this visit will see the development agreement signed.

Hounslow will set its wares out in the London Pavilion alongside other councils (with side panels exclusively devoted to Brentford) and will have a day's worth of presentations to which, it is hoped, 4-500 people will gather.

A flight simulator will form part of the plans for presenting opportunities created by Heathrow Airport and the Golden Mile, the stretch of the Great West road that runs from the western boundary of Chiswick to just north of Brentford. Fullers will generously be providing pints of London Pride to delegates.

It's also important for the council to bear in the mind the question of Heathrow, whether there will be a third runways at Heathrow or whether airfields elsewhere will be developed. These decisions have a big impact on the use and value of the A4.

Sponsorship for the development is coming from the borough's major developers and it is considered vital to attend MIPIM in order to gain the greater levels of interest required to find the right partners for development.

February 27, 2014