Unfold highlights region’s property positives

ISSUES including the commercial value of the Leeds city region, the future financing of regeneration and the role of sustainable design were all discussed at a major property conference yesterday.

Unfold brought together several hundred professionals, mainly from the property community to Leeds Town Hall.

Delegates took part in a series of seminars, which included panel discussions and debate.

During the opening seminar on the commercial value of Leeds and the city region, a panel made up of professionals including Howard Kew, chief executive of Financial Leeds, Gerald Jennings, Land Securities’ portfolio director for the North, and Jeff Pearey, head of the Leeds office of property agent Jones Lang LaSalle, discussed topics ranging from development space and retail opportunities.

The panel also dicussed the creation of an Enterprise Zone in the Leeds City Region, one of 21 to be created following an announcement by the Government.

Mr Pearey said there was a chance the zone, which offers benefits including tax breaks, could pull tenants from other parts of the region, which might cause problems.

But the panel agreed the zone, wherever it is located, would be of benefit to the regional economy.

Delegates also had the opportunity to network and visit a number of exhibition stands promoting developments and property companies.