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bpf chief takes a pop at labour's 'communities' agenda 19/06/2008 One of the UK's leading property figures returned to her home city of Birmingham today, for a trenchant assessment of the government's 'sustainable communities' strategy.
British Property Federation (BPF) chief executive Liz Peace suggested that Labour had yet to explain how its much-vaunted eco-towns would fit into either existing planning structures, or Local Development Frameworks.
"I fear they will become a fantastic focus for NIMBY opposition, and a diversion from good-quality sustainable communities," she added.
Ms Peace then also pointed to the public sector's habit of setting up a confusing series of organisations, development companies, quangos and initiatives; all targeted with achieving regeneration.
"I once told someone in the then Office of the Deputy Prime Minister that my members didn't know where to turn, and he said - without joking: 'We're setting up a new body, to help them find the right person.'"
She stressed that her comments - made at a seminar held at the Birmingham offices of lawyers Martineau - reflected her personal perceptions, rather than the official view of the BPF.
Ms Peace also paid tribute to the government's efforts to understand the development mindset.
"My members acknowledge that this is a Labour government which now accepts that profit is not a dirty word," she added.
However, given Ms Peace's high profile in the property sector, her earlier words are bound to be seen as an indictment of the government's record on achieving widespread success in sustainable communities.
Ms Peace also later suggested that the public sector had taken the concept of community involvement in major planning proposals to the point where it often became an "endless process."
"I think Argent has spent nine, ten or even eleven years consulting on its ideas for Kings Cross, which is the largest regeneration scheme in Western Europe," she said.
"Many planners, and local authorities, seem to believe community involvement must continue until, finally, no-one objects. We need councils - and councillors - capable of taking bold and brave decisions to drive such proposals forward."
However, Ms Peace did exempt Birmingham City Council from such criticism, highlighting its record on making big decisions on landmark schemes.
She also revealed that Argent's iconic Brindleyplace scheme had been the catalyst for her decision to enter the world of property.
"My grandmother lived in a cottage on the banks of the Grand Union Canal, and we used to walk into the city centre along the canal," recalled Ms Peace.
"I remember Gas Street Basin before it was developed into the heart of Brindleyplace, and it was disgusting."
Ms Peace had been invited to the seminar by the head of Martineau's construction team, partner Paul Mountain, after a meeting at the House of Commons.
He was very encouraged by the upbeat nature of the economic elements of her presentation, which confirmed his perception that equity funders were still willing to invest in Britain's property sectors.
He also welcomed Ms Peace's view that significant scope remained for joint public-private partnerships, in the regeneration and development sectors.
"I think she is absolutely right that a practical and business-like approach to such ventures is essential, while respecting the public sector's policy objectives," said Mr Mountain.
For further information please contact Paul Mountain on
paul.mountain@martineau-uk.com
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