The British Property Federation has appointed NewRiver REIT chief executive Allan Lockhart as the chair of its new retail board, which will lead the charge in representing real estate owners and businesses within the sector.
The board was created last month, after retail property organisation Revo wound down its lobbying activities.
It aims to drive the strategic agenda for the UK’s retail property sector and ensure its views are better heard by both central and regional governments, as it deals with the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic.
This includes presenting solutions to the government to protect and unlock further investment for town and city centres across the UK.
Equally, the board will shine a spotlight on barriers to collaboration, innovation and growth that are undermining the retail property sector’s role in supporting business, jobs and communities.
Lockhart’s main priorities for the year include championing the role of retail property investment in creating vibrant communities and helping to ensure it is an attractive asset class for investors.
He will also lead retail property’s response to the government’s ongoing review of the legislative framework underpinning the relationship between landlords and occupiers, and ensure that the sector rises to the challenge of becoming net-zero carbon.
Lockhart has more than 25 years’ experience in the UK real estate market, specialising in retail. He has also been a member of the BPF’s policy committee for the past three years.
He began his career with Strutt & Parker in 1988, advising major property companies and institutions on retail investment and development. In 2009 he co-founded NewRiver, which has a portfolio of 33 community shopping centres and 24 retail parks.
Lockhart said he will work alongside other board members and the BPF’s presidential and executive teams to “shape a more positive future for the retail property sector, its customers, and our town and city centres”.
David Partridge, president of the BPF, senior partner of Argent and chairman of Argent Related, said: “The retail property sector requires, arguably now more than ever, a strong and authoritative body to represent its interests. We are stronger and will have greater impact when we are united.”
Melanie Leech, chief executive of the BPF, said: “Moving forward, we need to ensure the conversation between retail property owners, occupiers and the government is one of partnership and shared goals, to create an environment that enables stable and healthy economic relationships between owners and occupiers for many years into the future. Our new retail board is set to achieve this.”
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