The founding partner of Warwickshire’s leading commercial property agency has called on the new Labour government to deliver on its commitment to reform the planning system and open up more employment land for development.
Tom Bromwich, founding partner of Bromwich Hardy in Coventry, said the widely predicted result would not adversely dent sentiment in the market immediately but investors and agents were looking to the government to provide a confidence boost.
“There is always an element of uncertainty when a new government takes over and Labour has promised much during the run up to the election.
“But now we wait to see how this is delivered.
“We all know the planning system is broken and is one of the greatest brakes on economic development in the UK. Whoever is in power, the system needs to be simplified radically and speeded up.
“We also need to see a greater understanding of the power of new employment land to unlock economic growth, not just locally but across the country,” he said.
He was echoing comments by his colleague David Penn, partner at Bromwich Hardy and past president of the Chamber, who is Chair of the Chamber’s Employment Land Group.
He has warned that a lack of supply of employment land risks driving land prices up and distorting the market in Warwickshire.
Mr Bromwich added: “We are ready to work with all our newly elected MPs across the county, whether Labour, Liberal Democrats and Conservative, as long as they commit to delivering results.
“No more endless ‘consultations’ which are merely kicking the can down the road until any difficulties are forgotten or can be glossed over.
“We will judge them by their actions – not their policies.”
