CEO’s Comment for Estates Gazette Birmingham Focus

In this article Gary Cardin, Partner at Drivers Jonas LLP, discusses the risks of government interference in Birmingham's commercial property sector and the importance of Advantage West Midlands in Birmingham's post-recession economy.

1) What is the most important single step the new government could take to improve the state of Birmingham’s commercial property sector?

“The issue is more about what they shouldn’t do.  The Conservatives want to rip up the planning system, as we know it, and start again.  In my opinion that would be disastrous for an economy emerging from recession.  

“The LibDems’ manifesto plans would place an even heavier tax burden on development through CIL (community infrastructure levy) and greater reductions in C02 emissions.  Whilst laudable, this is not the time to be focusing on these when the main priority should surely be about supporting business and property to help drive us out of recession.

“Birmingham’s commercial property sector needs this coalition to instil a sense of calm, clarity and certainty – now I think all would agree that that would definitely be seen as a step in the right direction.”
 

2) Should the new government go ahead with the Conservatives’ proposals to scrap Advantage West Midlands, and why? If it is scrapped what region-wide system should replace it?

“The focus should be on regional tiers of government and how they challenge the power base of London and the South-East.  My view is that, if we get rid of AWM, we’ll have a chaotic state of decision making where everyone is out for themselves.  What we need is a regional tier which balances - much more transparently - the particular needs and requirements from a property point of view for each region.  A reconstituted AWM could easily deliver this.

“It’s time each region got off the fence and stopped trying to be ‘jack of all trades and master of none’ which just plays into the hands of London and the South-East.  Each region needs to decide where its heart lies and what is its regional sphere of excellence.  This will dramatically reduce the time and resources currently wasted when every region competes with every other for the same ‘£10m’ pot of money.

“In Birmingham we’ve decided that we’re going to excel in several clusters* one of which is business and professional services and property is a key constituent.”

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