Property People: Sam Dewar

The rental market remains strong with young individuals still struggling to afford to get on the housing ladder. 

The pressure to provide more affordable housing however this is difficult and new housing sites struggle to justify the financial viability to provide such housing.

Despite the importance of small to medium housebuilders project finance for these sites remains difficult. 

We are however seeing more sites coming forward and this is certainly positive for the property sector in Yorkshire in 2018.

What is the best project you have been involved in?

The best project I have worked on is a 14 apartment scheme in Chapel Allerton in Leeds, which is due for completion summer 2018.  Despite significant delays in planning we were finally able to get permission at planning committee despite a recommendation for refusal from the planning officer. The scheme is a fantastic development on a brownfield site in a great area that required redevelopment by a patient developer.

What is your favourite building in the region and why?

Broadcasting Tower on Woodhouse Lane in Leeds.  Fantastic design and a testament to the positive change that Leeds Metropolitan University has had to the Northern Quarter.

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

Without doubt it would be a greater access to project finance for small to medium sized housebuilders.

Who has inspired you?

My biggest inspiration is my father who suggested I start my own planning consultancy.