FBE launches in Lancashire
The Forum for the Built Environment will be launching its Lancashire and Cumbria branch in Preston in June.
Established in 1946, the Forum for the Built Environment aims at connecting people who work in the built environment, in construction, commercial property and consulting.
The organisation, formerly known as the Faculty of Building, has established networking events already set up in Manchester and Liverpool.
The launch event next month will be looking at regeneration in Blackpool and how the resort has seen considerable change over the last few years.
Other topics being discussed include the formation of a new economic development company and what affect this will have on established and new approaches to regeneration across the Fylde Coast.
Mike Birchall, joint vice-chair for the Forum for the Built Environment in Preston, said: "We have Doug Garrett booked in as guest speaker for the launch event on 9 June, who is currently chief executive of the Blackpool's regeneration body ReBlackpool.
"Doug is doing a talk based around a theme of 'building a better Blackpool' and that's all I can say at the moment. I'm sure he'll mention schemes such as the Seafront, Talbot Gateway, and the future plans for the promenade, including the Tower, but he might also tell us more about what is planned with the combined councils in the Fylde area.
"A total of 90 people are booked in so far, although we're expecting about 100-110 people at the launch event.
"Audi have sponsored the event and are kindly sending us an R8 Spyder for guests to look at and admire.
"We hope to be staging FBE events in Lancashire and Cumbria once a month but it's a case of watch this space. It depends on who is available as speakers but we might have two events for the area this year and eight events in 2011. FBE events are about quality people and quality venues.
"The Lancashire and Cumbria event is a natural progression from the Manchester and Liverpool ones. In Manchester, where I spent two years as chair, it gets a regular attendance of 80 to 100 people and Liverpool gets up to those figures."
Birchall, who is also a partner at Brian Evans Associates, has been involved with putting the Lancashire and Cumbria Branch committee members together, which includes Michael Conlon of Conlon Construction.
The launch event takes place on Wednesday 9 June from 7.15am until 9.15am at Samlesbury Hall, a manor house built in the 14th century and located in Samlesbury, Preston.
- For further details visit the Place North West Events Listings
