May means UKREiiF – the UK’s biggest real estate investment event in Leeds, where the East Midlands debuted a team presence last year and this week promoted the region from a new pavilion which hosted a series of major announcements that put the region on the national and international map.
There was a joint showing from the East and West Midlands Mayors at UKREiiF underlined the scale of a £277bn regional economy and its importance to UK growth. Positioned side by side, the regions showcased shared strengths across automotive, life sciences, clean tech and logistics, reinforcing a coordinated narrative around productivity, innovation and investment. The “East meets West” moment reflected growing alignment within the Midlands as a nationally significant economic bloc.
Nottingham City Council used UKREiiF to launch its City Vision 2050, providing a clear long-term framework for growth and investment. Built around the themes of Home, Heart and Host, the vision positions the city as connected, inclusive and opportunity-led, with a strong emphasis on regeneration and economic leadership. A series of “Ten Bold Ideas” — spanning housing, transport, innovation and commercial space — sets out how Nottingham aims to compete for investment over the next 25 years.
EMCCA’s Trent Sports District was positioned as a flagship regeneration opportunity within the Trent Arc, linking sport, leisure and waterfront assets into a cohesive investment proposition. With a consortium led by Gleeds developing a delivery framework, the project aims to unlock jobs, new homes and enhanced connectivity, while building on globally recognised assets such as Trent Bridge and the City Ground. A clear focus on inclusive growth ensures local communities are central to the benefits of development.
Invest in Derbyshire highlighted a coordinated, place-based approach to regeneration at UKREiiF through its Future Ready Market Towns programme. A pipeline of live and completed schemes — from Ashbourne to Chesterfield — demonstrated momentum across town centres, supported by Town Deal and Future High Streets funding. The programme reinforced Derbyshire’s commitment to collaboration and delivery, attracting investor interest in scalable, community-focused regeneration opportunities.
The East Midlands’ role in the UK’s future energy system came into sharp focus through the Trent Supercluster. Transforming former coal-fired power stations into sites for fusion, SMR nuclear and green hydrogen, the programme positions the region at the centre of the UK’s drive for energy sovereignty and advanced technology leadership. The scale and ambition of these projects highlight a shift from industrial legacy to clean energy innovation, with the step Fusion programme at West Burton having just appointed a construction partner..
Nottinghamshire County Council set out an ambitious Land Development Programme for 2026–2029, bringing forward 25 strategic sites aligned with key growth zones such as the Trent Arc and Supercluster. The programme presents a coordinated pipeline of regeneration opportunities, combining location, energy innovation and development readiness to attract private sector partners and accelerate delivery.
Greater Lincolnshire Mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns launched a £4.2bn pipeline of opportunities at UKREiiF spanning housing, commercial and mixed-use development. Supported by a clear sector focus — including energy, advanced manufacturing, defence and agri-tech — the programme demonstrated both breadth and strategic intent. Activity at UKREiiF reinforced the region’s ambition to deliver transformational projects at scale and attract long-term investment partners.
Ahead of UKREiiF, Baker Baird helped Derbyshire convened investors and partners at Toyota to launch a major inward investment campaign. Showcasing over 30 opportunities and backed by a new Derbyshire Investment Prospectus and content programme, the initiative positions the county’s strengths in advanced manufacturing, logistics and sustainability. The event marks the start of a sustained campaign to promote Derbyshire as a forward-looking investment destination.