With more than £17bn of development set to rise out of the ground over the next ten years, the city is witnessing growth unprecedented in its history, he said.

Birmingham City Council estimates the huge sum will trigger the creation of up to 40,000 jobs in the next decade.

Mike Whitby said: "This fantastic figure of £17bn is up more than 50% since I first came to MIPIM in 2005.

"The developments we are witnessing now in Birmingham are the results of a much more aggressive approach by the city in taking our message to the world, particularly at events like MIPIM.

"Here, today, we are slugging it out toe to toe with every other major European and global city - not just our UK colleagues - to win the next generation of investment for Birmingham."

Some of the highlights in the £17bn include the transport trinity of Metro, New Street and airport runway extension which accounts for around £750m, the Library of Birmingham at £193m, the science and medicine sector which will run to around £750m, and major city centre schemes such as Arena Central and Snow Hill at £1bn and various Eastside schemes which total around £1bn.

He added:

"The Big City Plan has launched the most ambitious city-wide development programme in Europe, but it is not just about buildings but also about people, communities and culture.

"Today we are announcing an annual £15 million programme made up of £10 million from the city council and £5 million from our partners in the private sector to improve the public realm."

He will also stress the need to respond to the projected demand for 50,000 new homes in Birmingham by 2026 and the city's pledge to respond by building communities with mature suburbs, not cramming into spare corners and green space.