Property Focus: The Interview – Adrian Watson

THE new Localism Bill and city centre transport come under the gaze of Adrian Watson, a real estate solicitor in the Birmingham office of Cobbetts, on this week’s Property Focus.

If you are interested in taking part in ‘The Interview’, please email tamlyn.jones@thebusinessdesk.com and click through to see all our previous Property Focus Interviews.

1. What are your views on the current state of the commercial property and property development markets?

The market generally is affected only by lack of confidence and the uncertainty caused by the crisis in the Eurozone. Most people want to get on and do business. Manufacturing and engineering are generally doing well because of the favourable exchange rate and the good news coming out of Jaguar Land Rover. This will feed into the greater supply chain. The banks could do more but are so risk averse and at a time when asset values have become solid.

2. What are the key challenges and pieces of legislation you think will most affect your sector over the coming months?

The Localism Bill is an unknown entity to most people because it is based on a fundamentally different philosophy, namely ‘take responsibility for your own future and community’.

Socialist governments have spoon fed us since the 1940s with the idea of a ‘right to work’ and, as a consequence, the welfare state has overreached itself by supporting too many undeserving causes. Replacing the notion of a ‘right to work’ with a ‘duty to contribute’ will take a long time but has to be done. However, the effect of localism on the town and country planning system is unclear.

3. Why do you think the West Midlands is a good place to do business?

Because of our industrial heritage which is making a comeback. The region is also proximate to London and possibly due to get closer still with the adoption of HS2. Crucially, the West Midlands is also a welcoming place to those who move here from elsewhere.

4. What is your favourite building/development in the West Midlands and why?

Brindleyplace is a true success story; a model piece of regeneration. The Bullring is another good example, especially when you compare it to what was there before. It blends interior and exterior space easily and connects seamlessly with the rest of the retail centre.

5. If you could improve anything in the region, what would it be?

I would create a light rapid transit system, like a Metro. Birmingham has dithered on this for far too long. Not only would it connect the various parts of Birmingham, which are scattered around the city (the Bullring, train stations and Brindleyplace for example) but would be a unifying influence across Birmingham and the Black Country. It is long overdue.

6. What barriers have you faced during your career and how have you overcome them?

Pride, greed and over-ambition – all within me, of course.

7. What was your first job and how did you enter your current line of work?

I did manual work in my father’s chemical factory in Lye during university holidays. I changed my studies at university from chemistry to law which was much more interesting. I then gained work experience at solicitors in Birmingham which offered me a training contract.

8. What do you most enjoy about your job?

As a solicitor, doing property transactions – every deal I do is different. The clients are all different people, the other parties are different, the other solicitor will be different, the agent will be different, and the property is different. As it’s my job to make it all come together, it never ceases to be challenging.

9. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3v.5) Only He knows the complete picture.  I often forget to remember it.

10. And the worst?

Every man for himself.