You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Dispatches from MIPIM - day 2
Nick Johnstone reports from day two of the giant property event MIPIM in Cannes, in which social landlords are increasingly taking an interest
Branding, logos, publicity, flyers, banners, stands, catalogues, brochures – they’re everywhere. That’s the impression we’re left with on day two at the MIPIM property conference in Cannes.
It seems pretty much everyone here has something to vigorously promote. Every object on offer, each talk, every pathway you tread, every coffee you drink is in some way sponsored. This is not exactly surprising at a real estate conference for 20,000, but it is also exhausting.
The effect of it all is overwhelmingly numbing: from the director of public affairs at City Airport tubthumping about how great his airport is, to people choosing simply anodyne wording to publicise themselves: the UK government’s ‘Invest in Great’ being arguably the worst offender.
Still, in among all the fluff, there was some substance to be found, so here’s our round-up of day two:
Takeaways from day two:
Lord Heseltine will be missed
Regeneration doyen Lord Heseltine was last week sacked from the government’s advisory role on a number of positions he held, due to his views in the House of Lords on Brexit.
From a social housing perspective, the most relevant roles were the estate regeneration panel he chaired and the Thames Estuary Growth Commission – he was chair of both.
Speaking at the London stand earlier today, Berkeley Homes chairman Tony Pidgley, who is part of the estate regeneration panel he formerly chaired, said: “There are few people who I would have called my mentor. Lord Heseltine was one of them. It’s a tragedy that the government fired him. The rest of us will continue, and we’ll see who they replace him with, but they made a mistake in sacking the man because of Brexit.
Skills, skills, skills
It’s fair to say that one thing giving housing developers a major headache is the construction skills shortage. Many of the ‘clients’ we’ve spoken to are trying to do deals with – and make contacts in – the contractor world, as it’s currently in such high demand.
Some, including A2 Dominion deputy chief executive John Knevett, argues that if the industry creates sufficient demand for skills, then supply of skills will inevitably follow. But others are more wary of the spectre of spiralling construction costs and the problems of not developing the homes we need – modular construction will be one pillar of any solution.
David Lunts likes a nickname
David Lunts, executive director of housing at the Greater London Authority, welcomed Lord Bob Kerslake as chair of Be First, which is Barking and Dagenham’s new regeneration company. He says he used to be known as ‘two jobs Bob’ but will now be called ‘Barking Bob’. Meanwhile, straight-taking Darren Rodwell, leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said: “People won’t be able to build ‘crap’ in Barking and Dagenham. If people want to build crap, they can go somewhere else.” On the subject of affordability, Mr Rodwell says: “I’m still proud that we don’t have a £1m house in Barking and Dagenham.”
Right to Buy is on people’s minds
The high-value asset levy, which is supposed to be funding councils’ Right to Buy discounts, is on people’s minds. Key questions for government: how much money are the government expecting to raise, and how will that money be distributed? And will it matter how the levy is funded – through revenue spending or realisation of capital receipts? All questions we’re hoping to ask housing minister Gavin Barwell tomorrow… Oh no… his team have just cancelled our interview due to his tight schedule – marking the latest in a series of Inside Housing’s attempts to secure time with the minister recently which have been knocked back.
The London Plan will deliver density
A well-placed source said that the Greater London Authority is furiously working to get its new London Plan into a position to publish it next autumn. One word keeps coming up: “density”. Boroughs will be forced to look at increasing densities around transport hubs in the more suburban parts of London as part of the plan. And indeed, the big focus for all the land agents here is the London ‘doughnut’ or ‘halo’, which is more relevant to the capital than ever, since the prime London market has cooled.
Diversity has a long way to go
Although there are more women here than in some of the earlier years, it is still overwhelmingly obvious that white middle-aged men in suits dominate the agenda.
