Demand growth encourages positive outlook

Improving market conditions nationally, together with a notable increase in occupier confidence has had a positive impact which resulted in record take up levels across both the office and industrial sectors locally during 2013. The challenge for 2014 will be to ensure that we have the right property available, which is of the correct specification and in the preferred location to meet the continued high levels of demand we are seeing so far in 2014.

What is the best project you have been involved in?

The work I am currently doing with Harworth Estates is particularly interesting. We are working with them to regenerate and redevelop a number of strategically important business park sites, many which are former coalfield sites, across Yorkshire and the East Midlands.

What is your favourite building in the region and why?

It has to be Trinity Leeds. As a design, it provides a modern, airy retail and leisure environment which is open and looks out to the rest of the city, I love how the glass roof is reflective of the roof of the Corn Exchange.

Importantly it has also changed the city itself by establishing a life and vibrancy in the city centre into the evening, which was previously unseen, whilst at the same time bringing new retailers in and raising the city’s profile nationally.

If you could change one thing to improve the property industry in this region, what would it be?

To see a stronger working relationship between the local authorities, the city region, the tourism authority and the region’s major developers to sell the benefits of the area as a whole to businesses on a global scale. The initial steps have been taken in both Leeds and Sheffield but this needs to be progressed to ensure we compete with other UK regions.

Who has inspired you?

Cuthbert Broderick, the Victorian architect designed Leeds Town Hall and other great buildings including Leeds’ Corn Exchange and the Museum, together with the Grand Hotel in Scarborough, buildings which would not look out of place in any great European city.

Hundreds of years on, buildings such as these remain the key landmarks in our region.