Participants at our London HQ City roundtable at Labour Party Conference
Party Conference season provided an important opportunity to champion London’s role in driving growth, investment and prosperity across the UK, while engaging with policymakers, business leaders and industry partners on the challenges facing the capital’s property sector.
Labour Party Conference
A highlight of the week was our London Headquarter roundtable which brought together representatives from MHCLG, the House of Lords, City of London Corporation, Westminster City Council and other central London boroughs – as well as WPA and CPA members, partners and major investors. The discussion explored what London needs to remain a leading global HQ city. We discussed the importance of attracting investment and talent to deliver the high-quality workplaces businesses increasingly demand. A recurring theme was that London’s challenge is not attracting businesses, but ensuring it has enough of the right workspace to accommodate future growth.
We also joined the City of London Corporation’s Labour Party Conference dinner, where discussions focused on the City’s continuing role as a global financial centre and the contribution London’s economy makes to jobs, investment and tax revenues across the country. Speakers including Mayor of London Lord Khan of Tooting and City Minister Lucy Rigby MP highlighted the City’s role as a gateway for international investment into businesses and projects across the UK, underlining the importance of maintaining London’s global competitiveness.
While London featured less prominently on the main conference stage, conversations about cities, growth and devolution featured heavily on the fringe of the conference. Much attention centred on Prime Minister Andy Burnham MP‘s vision for a ‘devolution revolution’ and the significant new powers and responsibilities being handed to Mayoral authorities. Although much of this vision focuses on areas outside the capital, the implications for London were a frequent topic of discussion, particularly around governance, infrastructure investment and transport, and how the capital fits within an increasingly devolved England.
There was also a clear recognition that devolution is ultimately about equipping cities with the tools they need to deliver good growth. Discussions throughout the week explored how greater powers, local retention and funding flexibility could help London invest in the transport, infrastructure and development needed to support future economic success.
These themes surfaced across a range of events we attended, including in-conversation sessions with Growth Minister Dan Tomlinson MP and Deputy Mayor of London for Business & Growth Howard Dawber OBE. Whether the focus was infrastructure, investment or planning reform, there was growing recognition that cities will be central to delivering the Government’s growth ambitions.
For us, the week reinforced the importance of ensuring London’s voice is part of that conversation. As discussions around devolution, growth and investment continue to evolve, the London Property Alliance will keep engaging with politicians across the political spectrum to champion the interests of our members and make the case for central London’s continued success.
Conservative Party Conference
WPA’s panel discussion in the conference zone brought together Gareth Bacon MP, Shadow Minister for Housing & Planning and the Leaders of two central London boroughs.
The discussion focused on how the public and private sectors can work together to unlock development, deliver homes and infrastructure, and create better places in the capital. Panellists also explored how the benefits of development can be made more tangible for local communities, alongside the case for greater fiscal devolution so councils can retain and reinvest more of the value generated by growth.
Investment was a recurring theme throughout the conference. At the Centre for Policy Studies’ Breaking down barriers to growth event, discussions focused on removing regulatory, tax and investment barriers to unlock more domestic and international capital.
We also joined New West End Company for its Open for Growth: Powering the West End for the Nation reception, where James Cleverly MP, who is running to be the Conservative Party candidate for Mayor of London, spoke about London’s importance in driving national growth. The event highlighted the need to keep the West End competitive and attractive to businesses, visitors and investment.
At the City of London Corporation’s conference dinner with Rt Hon John Glen MP, discussions similarly focused on the role of financial and professional services in driving growth across the country.
Across the week, the message was clear: a successful London matters far beyond the capital. Unlocking development, attracting global investment and strengthening London’s competitiveness can help drive jobs, investment and prosperity across the UK.
