Richard McCarthy, Capita Symons
Which minister impressed you most and why? And which policies were best and worst?
I always admired Ruth Kelly immensely. It was a shame she decided to leave politics. And I got on really well with Yvette Cooper – do you see a pattern emerging here? On the blue side, Mark Prisk and I have followed each other closely for the past 13 years and he always struck me as pragmatic and, mostly, willing to listen to us. Perhaps his being a surveyor helped. I cannot understand why he was dumped from the government. And the REIT legislation has got to have been the best for the industry; the removal of empty property rates was the worst.
David Lunts, executive director of housing and land, GLA
Given the massive residential values in central and inner London, what’s the best way to deliver affordable housing there?
I am not sure we should be forcing low-cost housing into the most expensive parts of central London – unless there are some obvious ex-public sector sites that could be brought into play. Much better to look at more cost-effective locations in the inner suburbs. But even then, the only way of building low-cost housing is going to be to do what local government did in the early to mid-20th century and build the modern-day equivalent of council housing.
Jeremy Newsum, executive trustee of the Grosvenor Estate and BPF past president
Is there one government minister you have worked with whom you would rate as outstanding?
The two best ministers I ever came across were Roy Jenkins and Michael Heseltine. I find it difficult to see individuals of equivalent stature and brainpower today.
Trudi Elliot, chief executive, RTPI
Which planning reform has had the most unintended consequences (good or bad) for the property sector?
I actually think the NPPF is one of the best things to have happened to planning, though the jury is still out on the impact it will have in the long term.
Rob Bould, chief executive, GVA
When will we have a female BPF president?
There are a surprisingly large number of influential females in our industry – you just have to look a bit harder to find them, largely because they’re too busy getting on with their job/lives to worry about seeking attention. And we do have two brilliant women on our board – that’s a 25% female tally in total. So perhaps 2017?
Foraz Babar, planning and development, Land First
BPF presidents: love them or loathe them?
How could I possibly answer that? I have loved them all. But I had some good training, working for a sucession of ministers, and that teaches you how to find something positive about everybody!
Robert Upton, Infrastructure Planning Commission
In the context of the city-regional devolution agenda in England, with a corresponding demand for some degree of devolved fiscal powers to back investment, under what conditions could the return of business rates to local governance be bearable?
We’ve come a long way since the Derek Hatton era in Liverpool and I think most of my members now believe that it would be better for local authorities to be able to benefit directly from promoting development by getting their hands on more of the business rates. But with that financial power there must also be full responsibility – so devolution would have to be accompanied by real penalties for those who get it wrong and fail to deliver for their constituents.
Simon Thurley, chief executive, English Heritage
What is the most remarkable re-use of a historic building you have seen in the past 12 years?
Definitely King’s Cross – and in particular the old St Pancras Station.
David Hunter, Hunter Property Consultants and BPF past president
What would be your most important single piece of advice to your successor?
Make sure your president always thinks he or she has the last word!
Joanna Averley, chief executive, LandAid
How many black-tie dinners have you been to in the past 12 years and which was most memorable?
I’ve lost count – but probably somewhere in the order of 300! The BPF Reception in the Durbar Hall in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office – a fantastic venue with a real sense of history. And owing to a security problem, they wouldn’t let the president in!
