Bristol’s new mayor could play a crucial role in breathing new life into the city’s property and construction market, according to a leading expert.
Philip Morton, Head of Agency at leading property advisers CBRE Bristol, believes the election of George Ferguson could be a major turning point for the city and is likely to give it a major advantage over other regional rivals.
The new man in charge at the recently renamed City Hall has made his support for business clear and has also made a number of personal pledges.
He has gone on record to say the City will have its long awaited indoor arena within three years and is also talking to major firms about relocating to Bristol. And perhaps most crucially, Mr Ferguson has announced he wants to work closely with the Local Enterprise Partnership – the organisation behind the newly created Enterprise Zone.
Philip Morton said: “The comments coming out of City Hall have been very encouraging and George Ferguson has made it clear he wants to send out the right message to the business community. This is not just about supporting the businesses that are already based in Bristol but also about attracting new inward investment into the city.
“We need to highlight that this is a place that wants to work alongside the private sector and make it a city where businesses are welcomed with open arms.”
Philip added: “It is also very encouraging that George has publicly stated his willingness to work closely with the LEP. That is where the ability to change things will come from.”
Mr Ferguson has put business at the top of his list of priorities and is in the process of planning several trade missions. In a recent speech he made it clear that he wants to make more time so he can speak to chief executives and entrepreneurs.
The mayor also has strategic responsibility for planning issues and transport and has spoken of the need for a joined up approach to both issues.
Philip Morton said: “I think it really helps that the new man in charge comes from a business background and has a long track record when it comes to making things happen in the city. He is associated with a number of successful and popular projects and as a successful architect he has an in-depth working knowledge on how the construction and property industry works.”
He added: “For those reasons the appointment of George has to be a good thing for the city. Bristol was one of the only cities in the country to vote to have its own elected mayor. The Government has made it clear that it is happy to deal with directly with elected mayors, which gives us an advantage over most other regional cities.
“If you look at London the fact that the city has had a recognisable figurehead in charge for many years has been a major advantage. There is no reason why Bristol can’t have its own Boris factor and hopefully the man in the red trousers will really be able to make a difference.”
