MIPIM 2025: Rain, resilience and real outcomes

The British pastime of talking about the weather found its home in Cannes last week as the rain, the cold, the lightning, the thunder, all queued up to provide the best set of networking small talk in a generation. But the terrible weather also provided an unexpected shot of optimism and a reminder of the resilience (stiff upper lip and all that) that we are known for. 

Despite the weather, those conversations did take place – under umbrellas, parasols, gazebos, awnings, trees or just out in the open – the British contingent was unbeaten by the rain and many of those conversations took place against the backdrop of rain pattering on windows and plastic.

MIPIM has grown and developed into an event covering all elements – the tent now extends beyond just pure property and now includes logistics, sustainability, data and energy.  

And as MIPIM’s importance continues, so big names from the world of politics attend.  There was a large delegation representing London, including the mayor Sir Sadiq Khan; mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, a host of council leaders from across the UK, former Italian Prime Minister and former European Central Bank Chief Mario Draghi to name but a few. Providing the glamour was former Newcastle United and France player David Ginola, supporting the Newcastle delegation for the first time last week (and if the photos are anything to go by with the same level of success as at the League Cup final)

UK planning is used to an unfavourable climate – economic clouds, construction squalls and a flood of planning delays and blockages have left everyone looking for a glimpse of the blue sky.

The government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill helped brighten the mood somewhat, and there was plenty of praise for the 1.5 million homes target that the government has set. However, there was plenty of scepticism as to just how this would be delivered – everything from labour shortages to skills gaps to larger infrastructure projects hoovering up local labour and at preferential rates being cited as barriers for the government. 

The SEC Newgate team laid down a lot of shoe leather on Cannes’ streets throughout the week, and by attending events in the Palais (the MIPIM venue) and at networking receptions we were able to take the temperature across the sector of where the UK needs to be. 

As local government faces reorganisation, more mayors start appearing and housing targets are increased, don’t be surprised to see more UK local authorities heading to the South of France in March 2026. So easily written off as ‘just another jolly,’ it is a place where a great many people gather that may want to invest in a particular area. 

While it will stick in the minds of many due to the unusually bad weather; our MIPIM summary in the style of the inimitable Shipping Forecast is: 

Cannes, Nice, Côte d’Azur: lots of meetings, hardly any sleep; showers; good.