The British Council for Offices (BCO), British Property Federation (BPF), Investment Property Forum (IPF) and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) have formed an alliance to tackle major property issues in a more co-ordinated way while retaining their separate identities and roles.
The formation of the Property Alliance will give the commercial property sector a stronger voice on issues where greater coherence can make a difference. It builds on the recent REITs campaign which demonstrated the success that can be achieved when organisations collaborate.
Among its first actions the Property Alliance has agreed to set up a pan-industry research group to improve coordination of research programmes across the sector and maximise the impact and reach of that research. The Alliance will also be undertaking work designed to examine levels of satisfaction among commercial property tenants.
Sir David Clementi, Chairman of Prudential plc and Chair of the Property Alliance, said:
"I am delighted to be chairing the Property Alliance. I know just how crucial an efficient and dynamic commercial property sector is to the performance of the whole economy. Presenting the industrys case effectively and maximising the value of the work carried out by its representative bodies demands a high level of cooperation between its leading players. I recognise that a good deal of cooperation already takes place but I believe that the Property Alliance has the potential to plug some of the gaps that exist."
Richard Kauntze, Chief Executive of British Council for Offices, said:
"The BCO is a broad church, embracing all of those concerned with the office as a workplace on an equal basis. We are delighted that this diverse membership, including the BCOs growing number of occupier members, will be able to channel the BCOs interests and views through the Alliance."
Liz Peace, Chief Executive of the British Property Federation said:
"The highly successful cross-industry work on REITs has shown just what can be achieved when leading property bodies work together and present a united front. The Property Alliance should help ensure that the property sector seizes other opportunities to put across its key messages in the most effective and co-ordinated way."
Dr Paul McNamara, Chairman of the Investment Property Forum, said:
"The Alliance will allow the power of objective research and industry debate to be applied to relevant issues of the day. It will provide a valuable mechanism through which the industry can unite when there is a common cause or assemble different points of view when there is not."
Louis Armstrong, Chief Executive of RICS, said:
"This Alliance will strengthen the commercial property sectors ability to demonstrate its crucial role in the UKs economy. Together, we will be better able to tackle some of the major challenges facing Britain today, not least the impact of climate change, and the inter-relationships between the planning system and economic and social objectives."
Source: Property Alliance
