Regeneration experts from Bradford Council will travel to France to exhibit at the world’s biggest property fair.

Five councils – Bradford, Leeds, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield – are to exhibit together at the MIPIM event in a bid to attract investment to the region. During the event, from March 16 to 19, the councils will have a joint exhibition stand called ‘Leeds City Region: Growing and Going Together’.

From 2006 to 2008, Bradford took its own individual stand at the prestigious event with the aim of promoting the city centre regeneration programme, branded as the ‘Birth of a New City’ initiative.

Critics described the annual trips to Cannes on the French Riviera as a “jolly”, but regeneration chiefs insisted their presence helped persuade investors such as Garbe, a German developer, and MI7, a Middle East-backed developer, to undertake big projects in Bradford.

At last year’s event, Bradford and Leeds took a joint stand in what was branded as an exciting collaboration between two of the region’s economic powerhouses.

Jean Dent, director of city development for Leeds City Council, said last year’s partnership paved the way for further collaboration.

Mike Cowlam, Bradford Council’s assistant director for regeneration, said: “There’s a different approach based on growing relationships within the Leeds City Region.

“Instead of local authorities taking independent stands, we are going to have one Leeds City Region stand. We are taking four officers, all with particular specialisms.

“It will be a smaller team than previously, going out with very specific projects to sell and targets to achieve. What we learned last year was that, in the international context, the Leeds City Region is the right scale. It’s competing alongside places like Barcelona. When it’s on that type of scale, it’s more effective to present the City Region.”

Thousands of industry professionals, such as developers, financiers and surveyors are also expected to attend.