Hugh James sponsor Insider magazine property debate
14 I 07 I 11
The 14th June saw the Hugh James
commercial property team play host to some of the most influential
people in the Wales property sector as they descended on Hodge
House to discuss the current and future landscape of the
industry.
The discussion around the table was
frank, stimulating and a mixture of optimism, pessimism, hope and
despair, all the ingredients for a healthy and worthwhile
debate.
The debate opened with a candid
discussion of the current conditions of the market. Hugh James
Partner, David Roberts stated ‘The only sectors where there’s been
any growth are manufacturing and renewable energy. The transfer of
housing stock from local authorities to registered social landlords
has helped though. That is creating jobs in construction, and the
stock is appropriate for solar panels.’
It was agreed amongst the group
that the Welsh Government would need to play a vital role in
kickstarting the sector once again by looking at their planning
procedures, regulations and support functions. Thankfully some of
this was addressed in the First Ministers speech delivered on 12th
July which has firmly placed the planning system on the top of his
agenda for legislative priorities.
The event was chaired by the well
respected editor of Insider Magazine, Douglas Friedli. He was
joined on the panel by Paul Guy (PMG), James Groombridge (Barratt),
Richard Hayward (Richard Hayward Properties), Ian Williams
(Hendre), Mark Hallett (Igloo Regeneration), Roger Thomas (Cooke
& Arkwright), Mick Learoyd (Thomas Carroll), Paul Edwards
(Davis Langdon), Jonathan Matthews (Leadbitter) and Hugh James
Partner, David Roberts.
Read the full debate