31st October 2005
Property developer says that our disjointed planning system could force investment away from Northern Ireland’
Newry-based developer, Dr Gerard O Hare who owns the international Property Company Parker Green was speaking ahead of his involvement this year’s British Council of Shopping Centres Annual conference and Retail showcase.
Dr O Hare said ‘ Hosting the BCSC event in Northern Ireland is an opportunity to showcase what is best about our own retail developments but it also reminds us how much competition there is in the retail sector and how much investment goes to other parts of the United Kingdom.
While no property company can afford to be complacent or indeed concentrate all their activities in one market place, there is no doubt that many developers are looking outside of Northern Ireland for opportunities as the planning process here is
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too disjointed and far too slow to react to commercial realties facing retailers and developers alike.
Dr O Hare said that it was regrettable that some misinformed commentators were condescending about the type of jobs created in the retail sector as if they were somehow second rate. This is nonsense comes as many of the jobs on offer from major international and national retailers have enviable employee benefits as well has flexibility and career enhancement opportunities’.
Concluding Dr O Hare said ‘The new term in development is ‘glocal’ which meant having a global outlook with a local perspective. Hopefully that is how people see Parker Green as we expand our international portfolio and employ best practice in both development and design in a way that brings real benefits to the local communities.’
This prestigious retail property event is held each autumn, throughout the UK, and this is the first time it is being hosted in Belfast.
It provides a ‘wide-ranging and informative programme of presentations and workshops’. With over 150 exhibitors, it is used as ‘a platform for leading retailers, developers, owners, consultants and suppliers to the retail property industry, to create the synergy for which the event is celebrated’.
Statement ends:
Notes:
Parker Green International has an impressive commercial portfolio which includes; The Quays Shopping and Leisure Complex in Newry, Fairgreen shopping Centre in Carlow, Binns House of Fraser department store in Darlington, with plans for a €250 million mixed-use development in Waterford also in the pipeline.
The conference is being hosted by UTV Personality Pamela Ballantine and BBC Business Presenter, Declan Curry.
Special guest speakers include Olympic gold medallist Sir Matthew Pinsent, Senator George Mitchell and Senator Feargal Quinn.