Bradford Property Forum

Delivery needs to match positive stories for city - June 2011

My recent meeting with Westfield in London didn’t go as far as announcing that the scheme was being resurrected, but it’s clear that Westfield and the Council are working hard together there was a strong commitment by both to bring the site forward.

The strongest message I took away was that collaboration and engagement was being undertaken by senior people in an attempt to find the way to a retail/leisure solution for the centre.

The initiative to introduce the Queen of Shops into regional towns and cities to revitalise the high street will be seen as a publicity stunt if no action is taken on the findings of any survey.

Bringing Mary Portas to Bradford would allow the city to promote its people, its heritage and culture in way that could be built into the positive messages around the city and about future possibilities.

Our current survey asking young people what they would like to see is an equally important ingredient into the bigger picture.

The possibility that the city centre could be awarded Enterprise Zone status is equally appealing with the potential for inward investment, growth and jobs. Have the decision-makers got the vision to see Bradford’s potential over the three other bids? We will soon see.

Announcing positive stories and key messages is all good to promote the city but delivery is the key ingredient that needs to continue.

Paul Mackie - Chair Bradford Property Forum 

 

Getting the young view on future - May 2011

The Property Forum is leading a new initiative with an on-line survey aimed at Bradford’s 15-25 year olds, asking what they want to see in their city in the future.

The questionnaire seeks to find out what young people would like to see in respect of retail, leisure and the role of the City Park. As Bradford has one of the UK’s fastest-growing young populations, it seems only fair to seek out their views about the city.

Social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are helping promote the survey – which can be found at you-decide.co.uk. This morning’s BPF meeting promised to be an interesting discussion about new financing opportunities, whether or not the banks are actually kick-starting regeneration locally, and how the property market is squaring up to recent spending cuts. While there is genuine concern for the future, it’s not all doom-and-gloom in the news.

The naming of the city’s Southgate project as best commercial development at the Yorkshire Property Awards shows that there is growing optimism in the city even by our nearest neighbours – ‘gosh’, I hear you say. While still a long way to go, there is a more positive mood in the city, and successes like this can only reinforce the message that Bradford’s a good place to be in business.

 

Let’s see the back of the Energy Vampires - April 2011

The Property Forum is supporting Jane Vincent’s Positive Bradford campaign with its own B+ messages, and last week saw nearly 200 attendees at the Positive Bradford Planning Day to help promote the city.

The Bradford Means Business Awards at the Aagrah earlier this month were also a great success as some of the finest examples of Bradford’s less high-profile companies walked away with very worthy recognition and accolade.

My predecessor on the Property Forum, Andrew Mason, was a worthy winner of the Business Personality of the Year Award, and my congratulations go out to all.

The main message from all this good stuff going on though is internal belief and promotion of our city, because if we don’t believe in ourselves, then nobody else will.

These activities show that, through a combination of champions like the T&A, the more ‘vocal’ business folk like Andrew and Jane, and those simply getting on with business, that there is good reason to be positive about Bradford.

My message is more stark in that those Energy Vampires in our city that seem intent on sucking out all the energy and good things going on, should look at themselves and go suck the life out of someone else’s city, because you are not welcome or wanted here!

Paul Mackie - Chair Bradford Property Forum 

 

Ways we can really come out fighting

Punching above our weight is one of the key messages being spread around Bradford businesses.

The Local Enterprise Partnership is taking shape with Neil McLean as the board chairman. Bradford needs to punch harder than its neighbours to not miss out on limited funding streams.

The Property Forum and other organisations are promoting messages about being Bradford-positive.

This is spreading as the business community seeks to position the city to take advantage of new opportunities. Bradford bosses, currently throwing their weight behind the Regional Growth Fund bid, are also part of the new City Centre Development Group.

My recent meeting with Westfield did not deliver any positive news about the shopping centre, although dialogue is continuing with the Council at a very senior level. That is positive.

The Forum supported the Chamber of Commerce at a meeting with Bradford’s five MPs, which has instigated a new dialogue about what Bradford businesses want from the Government.

Hopefully, the Bradford Means Business Awards will showcase some of the many examples of enterprise and entrepreneurship in the city. So, if the district can get all this good work and positive news out in a coherent and joined-up way, then we should really start to see the benefits of punching above our weight.

Paul Mackie - Chair BPF

 

The vision that can boost city - January 2011

It is with great pride that I take over the role of chairman of the Bradford Property Forum for the next two years. I want to share the Forum’s aims and objectives as we enter this new world of austerity and cost-cutting.

Collaboration will be the new model going forward. Twenty per cent of something is better than 100 per cent of nothing. This collaboration will help the private sector to lead us out of recession.

Hopefully, the financial constipation in the banking sector will find the bowl of prunes it desperately needs to loosen things up.

The Big Society and localism is here to stay, and we in Bradford should lead the way as we have done in the past.

The private sector is seen as the lifeboat for the economy, but for this to happen, the bureaucracy and red tape needs to change quickly.

Business people should commit time, knowledge, contacts and spending to help Bradford. A positive outlook for our city is crucial if we are to win support and investment against our nearest competitors.

Successful cities are made by people with the vision to see further than tomorrow. Have the Council and the people of Bradford got the vision to make Bradford a success?

Enterprise is the strength of our people and the image of the city is the key to outside investors. Be proud and be positive about the city, it’s the only one we’ve got!

Paul Mackie - Chair - BPF

 

So long – it’s been great putting the case for Bradford - December 2010

Well, as the saying goes, “all things come to an end”.

My tenure as chairman of the property forum ends this month, and I am handing over to Paul Mackie, of Rex Proctor & Partners, a great Bradford company.

I have enjoyed the role massively.

We have had some great meetings with much warmth and humour. We have had some fabulous speakers who have kept us all up to date on current and future issues.

It has allowed me to meet some fabulous people who I may never have had the opportunity of doing so, and making many friends.

The real credit of the property forum belongs to its membership.

The steering group meets every month with between ten and 16 of us discussing changes in legislation, quality, planning, highways and problems, as well as topics for full forum meetings.

The steering group has been tireless in using its contacts and influence for the benefit of Bradford.

Then there are the full meetings at venues around the city with between 50 and 100 members asking questions, sponsoring and networking with other related property people.

Last, but by no means least, is the secretariat role supplied by Mike Cartwright and his fabulous team at the Chamber, who have been professional, meticulous and a delight to work with.

Above all things, the pleasure has been mine for being allowed to say how fantastic Bradford is. Cheers!

 

Capital hears a strong case for investment - November 2010

I wrote this month’s column while sitting on a train heading north, leaving London feeling very proud of our city. I was part of a Bradford city delegation which went to the capital trying to drum up support for inward investment – and let me tell you if you had landed from a different planet you would be very clear where to invest.

Jon Riley, of the Property Forum steering group, was up first welcoming on behalf of Pinsents. He was clear and precise (as always).

Next up, Coun David Green, the Council’s lead portfolio holder for regeneration, on how he came to the city as an undergraduate and stayed through his love affair with Bradford. Then Barra Macruiri, Bradford Council’s strategic director of regeneraton, who was articulate, who was passionate, driven and focused, followed by Martin Bowes, of Welbeck Land and Mi7 sustainable student village.

The ever-young Bradford-born film director Steve Abbott spoke on Bradford as the Unesco City of Film, and Chris Gillespie finished off on why, after 130 years, Provident Financial still wants to invest in Bradford.

And with 43 of the 45 invited guests ranging from investors to bankers , retailers to publishers, you could not help but be impressed. I certainly was – and very proud too.

Andrew Mason - Chair BPF

 

The benefits of sensible lending - October 2010

We are one week away from the comprehensive spending review. I cannot remember a more anticipated government policy in the last 30-odd years or one that will have more far-reaching consequences.

I fully appreciate that the country needs to balance the books, but what really gets my blood boiling is hypocrisy.

I have heard Mr Cameron, Mr Cable and Mr Hague all saying how important it is that banks should lend to small and medium sized businesses. The truth is they are not.

The banks are more concerned about repairing their balance sheets.

So, we now have a situation where banks that went bust through their own fault and have had major cash injections from the taxpayer, telling small businesses that their cost of borrowing is going up or being withdrawn because they want to protect themselves going forward.

The comprehensive spending review will make this situation even worse and could push some companies over the edge – none more so than in the property sector, where housebuilding is at an all-time low, commercial rents have fallen, and funding is almost impossible to come by.

Surely the Government should insist that our nationalised banks should lend at preferred rates to assist the property sector out of the current slump and defer the rate of its balance sheet repairs in favour of creating growth.

One thing is certain, repairing the banks’ balance sheets will not create one single job, help one family or stimulate growth. Sensible lending will do all three.

Andrew Mason - BPF Chair

 

Youth Survey in the press

The Property Forum launched a survey to find out what the younger generation wants from Bradford's future City Centre.

Click here to view the published article.

March 2011 - Meeting Report - The Canal Rd Corridor

The Canal Road corridor in the Bradford District can be the development catalyst for change, Bradford Property Forum (BPF) members were told at the latest meeting. 

Changing the landscape Sixty or so designers, architects and other property-related business professionals heard from Bradford Council and private sector consultant BDP about the plans for a 5,000 home, eco-friendly housing settlement in the corridor.  Although the scheme is still at the evidence-gathering stage for now, supporters feel that it could change the landscape of the area when it happens.

 BDP director Andrew Teage pointed out that consultations were still underway but options on taking the development forward included the scheme acting as a growth corridor, transport hub or even that the ‘new town’ could transform the image of the natural valley bottom. Good form The presentation was augmented by three sixth form students from Bradford Grammar School, where the meeting was held, who outlined wonderfully for people of such a tender age the strengths and weaknesses of both the corridor and Bradford generally.  House-building, creating an enterprise zone and including local communities were the themes accentuating the presentation.  

Uwais Khan, Fraz Ali and Ali Aljaward also combined to underline the importance of sustainability with a clear message about ‘going green’.  There was, however, a confession afterwards that the experience was ‘nerve-wracking’.  Well done boys, you did good! Andrew Teage’s link to Bradford Council, Simon Woodhurst, gave the rationale to ‘why yet another masterplan’, noting issues in relation to skills, unemployment and housing needs that many in the audience were already familiar with.  

To meet the growing local population, the current house-building rate of 3,300 per year needs to double soon, the audience were told. What opportunities? The plan to drive the Canal Road project forward will be led by a joint venture company involving regeneration company Urbo and Bradford Council.  It is too soon yet to say precisely what business opportunities will emerge for BPF members and other enterprises in the District, although it is widely recognised that the corridor and the rest of Aire Valley can create more local economic growth.  

Attendees also heard from Stephen Talboys about the MIPIM property conference in France earlier in the month. He and Kevin Reed, both of Bradford Council, kept up the aim of making new international contacts and promote investment opportunities here.  Although it is the sixth year Bradford has had a presence in Cannes, the scale of involvement was pared back this year due to the financial backdrop. Weighty matters As BPF chairman noted in his introduction to the meeting, Bradford needs to ‘punch above its weight’ in order to compete nationally and internationally, so engaging and informing new property contacts remains important for Bradford’s economy. Prior to the meeting, attendees were treated to a short mini-tour through part of Bradford Grammar School, which has been around in some form since the mid-16thcentury.