City Property Association’s new chair sets out stall
Landsec’s head of development management for central London has mapped out four priorities as he takes the chair at the City Property Association.
Ross Sayers took the two-year role on Wednesday from British Land’s Gareth Roberts. The CPA represents more than 150 real estate companies operating in the Square Mile.
Sayers knows the year ahead will pose challenges. “We’ve got the 2040 City Plan going out for consultation at the moment. We’ve got the mayoral elections ongoing this week, and there’s an impending general election,” he said. “Over the next year there’s a huge amount of work for us to do as a property association to make sure the voice of the property industry is heard.”
Landsec’s head of development management for central London has mapped out four priorities as he takes the chair at the City Property Association.
Ross Sayers took the two-year role on Wednesday from British Land’s Gareth Roberts. The CPA represents more than 150 real estate companies operating in the Square Mile.
Sayers knows the year ahead will pose challenges. “We’ve got the 2040 City Plan going out for consultation at the moment. We’ve got the mayoral elections ongoing this week, and there’s an impending general election,” he said. “Over the next year there’s a huge amount of work for us to do as a property association to make sure the voice of the property industry is heard.”
Sayers outlined four priorities for his stint as chair. First, making sure the Square Mile thrives as a global destination for “business and personal” visitors.
“The City contributes £85bn in economic output annually and is home to one in every 52 British workers,” he said. “The delivery of world-class sustainable workplaces is essential in ensuring the City realises its goal of being the preeminent global location for business investment while meeting its net-zero carbon aspirations. Last year, 23 developments were granted permission or resolve to approve, and these schemes together will contribute over £83m under section 106 and CIL.”
Second, backing the City of London Corporation’s “Destination City” initiative to make the Square Mile “a place to play and relax”.
“The CPA is fully behind these ‘destination’ ambitions that can only be achieved with modern and inclusive workspaces, streets and walkways and excellent culture. Major public realm improvements, including those at Bank and the St Paul’s gyratory, are making the City more pedestrian-friendly, and the investment in the new London Museum demonstrates the City’s commitment to culture.”
Third, pushing ahead with the borough’s sustainability ambitions. “We need to make sure the City is a place for the future by continuing to drive towards the net-zero City aspirations,” Sayers said. “The real estate industry is decarbonising at pace, with developers and investors increasingly taking a retrofit-first approach to development. This is evidenced in the number of retrofit planning applications approved in the City over the past year, half of all retrofit permissions granted across the whole of London. The City Corporation is widely viewed as a leading local authority in the development of its sustainability policies, which are often held up as best practice.”
Finally, said Sayers, he intends to maintain a focus on the social impact and responsibilities of the real estate industry.
“The City must continue to be a place founded on fairness and equity, by continuing to promote social sustainability, improve diversity in the industry and the social value of development,” he said. “Places are about people and the built environment sector has a responsibility to ensure our buildings spaces and public realm are accessible inclusive, encourage diversity and equity, and can be enjoyed by the City’s wide range of community groups.”
