Briggsy’s Property Blog
AS the issue of enterprise zones continues to dominate the headlines, it’s been interesting to watch how the local enterprise partnerships in the Leeds and Sheffield city regions have approached the process.
The Sheffield LEP has published a shortlist of its potential sites for the enterprise zone – a Government initiative that allow local enterprise partnerships to identify areas that can enjoy a range of benefits including business rate discounts, a simpler planning regime and access to superfast broadband – which can be read here.
Meanwhile in the Leeds City Region, a board meeting of its LEP is being held today but no indication has been given of the locations on its shortlist, despite a number of names being banded around.
Comments posted on TheBusinessDesk.com have asked why one party has been forthcoming with the information, while another hasn’t.
There’s no clear answer but a couple of points do spring to mind. Both boards of the LEP are made up of a mix of representatives from the private and public sectors and the indication is that there must be a clash of cultures as local authority members used to close scrutiny meet with private sector chiefs who make a habit of often keeping things secret.
There is also the feeling that as new organisations (and ones which have been told by government to pretty much come up with their own agendas) that no rules are in place as to what information LEPs have to disclose.
Watch this space but that could soon change if they get to manage and distribute public funds.
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I had a couple of interesting discussions with two sets of Yorkshire property lawyers from different firms this week.
I asked them both the same question: ‘How are you seeing the property market in this region at present?’
Answers ranged from ‘dead’ to ‘flat’. However, out of the apparent gloom came the view that despite activity being sterile in Yorkshire, lawyers and other advisers and professionals working in this sector in this region are having more luck when it comes to acting for clients outside this patch.
Markets such as London are flying and it’s got to be good for Yorkshire that businesses, developers and occupiers want to tap into the professional talent we can boast.
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INTERESTING to see that DTZ’s office agency team in Leeds has been appointed jointly with BNP Paribas Real Estate as letting agent for BAM’s second Leeds city centre development, Latitude Blue.
Latitude Blue will offer 115,000 sq ft of Grade A space across seven storeys.
“When completed, the scheme will represent one of the greenest office developments in the city, with a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’ and the ability to occupy one person per 8 sq m,” the blurb I received this week said.
It was also insightful to read that although detailed planning consent has been granted, construction won’t begin until an occupier has been found.
A change of tactic from Bam’s Latitue Red scheme, now rebranded No 1 Leeds, on the site, which was completed more than 18 months ago and has struggled to attract occupants.
