Leading Bristol-based property consultancy Hartnell Taylor Cook LLP has held its annual Commercial Property Review of Bristol – a day in which the city is showcased to some of the most influential property investors, developers and financial institutions in the country.
The firm has staged the event annually for the last 20 years. Partner Ian Lambert said: “Bristol’s story is always evolving, and each year different themes emerge. Hosting this event gives us a great opportunity to present the key projects and opportunities in the city. Bristol’s a great place to live and work, and we’re keen to show our clients why.”
Delegates from such investors as M&G Investments, LaSalle Investment Management and Aviva, along with key developers including Cubex, Deeley Freed and Goodman, which is developing the St Mary le Port city centre site, were treated to a whistle-stop tour of key sites in the city and surrounding areas, with staff from Hartnell Taylor Cook providing commentary on key sectors of retail, offices, investment and warehousing.
The 60-strong delegation boarded a bus at Bristol Parkway and toured sites in the northern and western fringes of the city, including Cribbs Causeway and the booming industrial areas of Avonmouth and Severnside, before heading to Ashton Gate for a tour of the stadium’s spectacular new grandstand and facilities, along with a coffee break and a presentation from Bristol Sport chief stadium operations officer Mark Kelly.
The group then headed through the city centre, looking at a number of office-to-residential conversions and the retail offer at Cabot Circus, before arriving at Temple Quay to board a boat for a trip along the Floating Harbour, checking out such developing areas as Finzels Reach, Wapping Wharf and Bristol General Hospital.
Thomas Anderson, senior investment executive of Helical Bar said: “The Tour by the Hartnell Taylor Cook team covered a lot of ground and it was very useful to get a cross-sector understanding and up to date assessment of what is going on in Bristol.”
Each year, the Commercial Property Review highlights specific areas of change or opportunity, with two of 2016’s areas of interest being for the food and beverage operators in the Queens Road and Park Street area, and the major distribution warehouses being developed by retailers including Lidl and The Range.
Lambert concluded: “As a firm, we’ve been in Bristol since 1922 and showcasing the city with the Commercial Property Review is something we’re proud to do. There is so much change taking place here that it’s hard to grasp from outside, so for us it makes perfect sense to bring key people in and bang the drum for Bristol.”
