MIPIM 09 will prove what a difference a year can make.

The economic downturn is expected to be reflected in the world’s biggest commercial property show which reached record levels for attendance just a year ago.

But Coventry, a MIPIM stalwart, will also be bringing to the show the results of 12 months endeavour– and a vision of the next 15 years.

A year ago the appointment of the Jerde Partnership to masterplan the city centre made headlines. The American design practice was seen as a bold choice for Coventry City Council and its city centre partners.

But, 12 months on, Jerde’s plan – which will see office space, new homes, and 1.5 million sq ft of new retail space – has received acclaim and another major new plan for the future will be showcased at the event.

Coventry University has drawn up plans for a massive regeneration of its city centre campus and for the first time it will be marketing itself at MIPIM.

This masterplanning exercise covers the whole of the 13 acres owned by the university and will be progressed on a phased basis over the next 15 years.

Detailed designs have been approved for the first phase which consists of two major buildings – a new student enterprise building designed by Hawkins\Brown and a radical engineering and computing building designed by Arup Associates – while a new multi-storey car-park will make up this £160 million stage.

Nick Stokes, Director of Marketing and Communications for Coventry University, said: “Our campus redevelopment plans reflect the growth and success of the university and the need to make our buildings fit for purpose for the 21^st century.

“To do that we need a campus which reflects those needs and aspirations, and at the moment we do not have that."

“The timing of MIPIM could not be more perfect. Coventry has a growing international reputation and we are keen to be a part of the push to market the city centre to a wider audience and to engage with other organisations to help move our plans forward.”

Coventry’s way of funding its presence at the show is now being adopted by other cities throughout the UK.

Three years ago, the council acted as a catalyst to bring all developers, agents and other property professionals together to form a “team Coventry”, making a more unified approach and thereby increasing the impact of any spending.

This year the Coventry’s partners include Cala Homes, Cannon Kirk, Coventry University, Complex Development Projects, Coventry University, D&P Holt, Deeley Properties, Goodman International, Highbridge Properties, Jaguar Cars, Martineau, MCD Developments, Corovest Modus, Oakmoor Estates, Shortland Horne and Stoford Developments.

Martineau, which has its headquarters in Colmore Square, Birmingham, is new to the Coventry delegation.

Business Development Director Jon Preston said the team approach is what had attracted the 300-strong practice.

He said: “We have been regular attendees at MIPIM over the last few years. We are strong in several relevant areas including construction, real estate and property banking so it is an ideal chance to us to make new contacts and cultivate existing relationships.

“We were aware of the Coventry presence last year and how the idea of partners coming together to fund a presence at the show makes so much sense. Not only does it provide you with a ready-made network of contacts, the pooling of resources allows the partners to punch above their weight in terms of marketing presence.

“It says a great deal that at a time like this, the partnership has remained strong and has in fact grown.”

David Holt, a director of Coventry-based D&P Holt who is a MIPIM stalwart, feels that the amount of development currently underway or planned for the city has focussed attention on it at the just the right time.

He said: “There is no question that with major developments such as Stoford’s building for Severn Trent and MCD’s EarlsdonPark scheme, along with longer term sites such as the station quarter development by Cannon Kirk and Highbridge Properties’ Ansty site, Coventry is very firmly on the development map.

“That is the result of years of work by a collection of people, both from the private and public sector, but it is coming to fruition in a very tangible way and the whole industry is aware of that. The MIPIM presence is the prefect example of that team approach.”

That was highlighted at an event held by Coventry City Council last month. The showcase evening at the Metro Bar & Grill – which was sponsored by Deeley Properties – coincided with the worst weather of the cold spell but still attracted close to 200 people who battled through the snow to attend.

John McGuigan, Director of Development for the council, summed up the approach.

“We know there is still a very long way to go both in terms of our city centre and other areas, but I think we have the reputation as a can-do city,” he said.

“We are rebuilding our city through a partnership with property and other professionals who are a key part of the team.

“Coventry has a common sense approach – if proposals are right for Coventry, we will work together to make things happen.

“However, we also want to make things happen and there is no better example of that than the Severn Trent building which got planning consent in less than eight weeks."

“If proposals are not right for Coventry, we will quickly – but politely – say so, and not waste people’s precious time.”