The Interview – Richard Parker

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the property sector in the North West right now?
 
The quality of housing design is generally very poor outside of the major cities. Developers and their teams need to raise the bar and promote well designed homes.
 
If you could improve anything in the region, what would it be?
 
Some local planning authorities in the North West are very negative and seem to create red tape. The planning process needs to be streamlined and local planning authorities need to realise their critical importance in the process, to promote growth and development, especially in the housing sector.
 
Looking into your crystal ball, what are your property predictions for the next six months?
 
Slow growth, with nothing dramatic. I do not think we will not get back to pre-recession levels of activity. The general election might also create uncertainty for the property market over the next six months. That said, there are always going to be good opportunities out there for developers and property professionals to take advantage of.
 
What is the best project you’ve been involved in?
 
I get satisfaction from most of the projects we build, but notable projects at each end of the scale would be the recently completed £10m egg-packing plant for Noble Foods in Oxfordshire, down to the modest, but exciting, extension to my own house, designed in collaboration with my wife who is also an architect.
 
Name the person who has most inspired you and the one who has had the biggest influence on your career?
 
David Hubert, the senior partner and my mentor at Cornish Architects in London. He was a firm but fair taskmaster, with strong values and ethics that influenced all who worked with him, at whatever stage of their career.
 
If your career didn’t exist, what would you do?
 
Mountain guide – It’s one of my lasting regrets that I didn’t spend longer in the mountains when I was younger.
 
What’s the best thing about your job?
 
Working with the team in the office, building lasting relationships with clients and last but not least, the enormous satisfaction from seeing people use and enjoy the built environment that you helped to create.