With the growth agenda piling pressure on local authorities in both the UK and across Europe to attract global inward investment for jobs and regeneration, the battle to lure potential developers is fierce. Michael Burton visited a major investment event to look at the competition UK towns and cities face.

It's a competitive world out there – and none more so than when it comes to cities and towns attracting inward investment. A stroll around the exhibition stands at MIPIM, the world's largest property regeneration event held in Cannes earlier this month, revealed that the UK's cities outside London are up against some pretty stiff competition.