London’s property developers and investors should be more vocal in their work and promote their reputation more, attendees of the London Real Estate Forum’s VIP dinner heard.
Tony Pidgley, chairman of Berkeley Group and president of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the industry was likely to come under more pressure from politicians and the public in the near future.
“I think we are going to be challenged in the months ahead by our politicians who, instead of supporting us, seem to find ways of hindering the industry,” he told 140 guests at a special dinner at The Dorchester on Park Lane, W1.
“The public challenges us all the time. Once again, there are going to be a lot of tough questions and we are going to have to stand up and be counted. Let’s celebrate the regeneration that has gone on and the places we are making.”
Pidgley said the country had a negative mindset that affected the industry adversely.
“I think development and homebuilding should be seen as a force for good. We do a lot of good things, we build a lot of super buildings. Only in England could we criticise everything.”
Despite his lamenting of the country’s politicians, he said his initial engagements with London’s new mayor, Sadiq Khan, had been positive. “Sadiq seems open for business. We have had two negotiations with him already and had to give a little, but a little is not too much,” he said.
Guests also heard from Brendan O’Reilly, O2’s chief technology officer in the UK, who said that the property and technology industries needed to work more closely together in order to prosper.
“We need each other. We believe that collaboration between government bodies, local planners, developers and landlords is the only way we will truly deliver a digital Britain,” he said.
