Property Focus: The Interview – Henry Bellfield
HENRY BELLFIELD, director at Barberry Developments, discusses collaborative working, the West Midlands business community and MIPIM in Property Focus.
1. What are your views on the current state of the commercial property and property development markets?
There are some signs of improvement in the commercial property industry, particularly in parts of the occupational market. Securing funding is still challenging for all businesses and sectors, which clearly puts restraints on property development.
2. What are the key challenges and pieces of legislation you think will most affect your sector over the coming months?
There needs to be a more joined-up thinking approach and co-operation between the private and public sector to overcome shared difficulties and bring forward investment, development and job creation.
A good example of this is the MIPIM Coventry & Warwickshire Partnership. The group, which is made up of private sector developers and other related businesses, has one common aim – to bring investment to help Coventry and Warwickshire achieve its potential.
The planning system and the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) support sustainable development, investment, and job creation. However, local political agendas are increasingly resulting in delays, uncertainty and increased cost in progressing planning consents.
Business rates on empty properties are further stifling any new development and will limit the country’s capacity for economic growth and recovery.
3. Why do you think the West Midlands is a good place to do business?
The West Midlands is a central and well-connected location. Businesses based in the region benefit from excellent access to the national motorway networks, rail connections to London and the rest of the UK, and further afield with flights from Birmingham and Coventry airports. It’s a great place to live and do business.
4. What is your favourite building/development in the West Midlands and why?
If I can’t choose a Barberry scheme, it would have to be 10 Woodcock Street – Birmingham City Council’s new city centre offices. If the numbers are to be believed, these impressive offices have saved Birmingham taxpayers £100million after the council introduced a more efficient, eco-friendly way of working. It’s quite impressive to see BCC being so forward thinking.
5. If you could improve anything in the region, what would it be?
Confidence.
6. What barriers have you faced during your career and how have you overcome them?
The big crash. For most businesses it’s been about keeping their heads down and surviving. Companies and individuals that make it through will emerge far stronger than they were before with greater knowledge and experience.
7. What was your first job and how did you enter your current line of work?
When I first started working during my gap year I was a warehouse operative by day and a barman by night. I studied Land Management at Reading University and joined DTZ shortly after getting my degree. I then qualified as a Chartered Surveyor and joined Barberry in 2005.
8. What do you most enjoy about your job?
Helping to improve the built environment and physically making a difference, while creating jobs and enabling companies to grow and prosper.
9. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
The harder you work, the luckier you get.
10. And the worst?
Property is a quick and easy way to make money.
