Rice to speak at Paris office conference

Paul Rice, chief executive of the Liverpool Commercial District Partnership, will address the first World Business Districts Summit for Sustainable Development in Paris next week.

Delegates from 20 of the world's leading cities will meet for two days to discuss the role of mixed-use development in creating business quarters, with the aim of agreeing measurable international commitments for the future.

Rice (pictured) said: "Central to the regeneration of Liverpool's commercial district has been the creation of a high quality residential offer at the likes of Unity and Beetham Tower, which in turn has seen growth in the demand for retail and leisure facilities, from Sainsbury's to the stunning new Panoramic restaurant in the West Tower.

"It's no longer enough to build office space and expect business to flood in. One has to create a sense of place and community that doesn't function solely for eight or nine hours a day. It must be safe, clean and vibrant – put simply, a place where people want to be."

Liverpool CDP was set up over a year ago to improve the trading environment and investment credentials of the commercial district around Old Hall Street through initiatives covering security, transport and public realm among others. It was modelled on the successful Piccadilly Partnership in Manchester.