As a Property Lawyer specialising in concluding legal documentation in order to make urban regeneration work, I have considered with interest the latest report entitled "Cities Unlimited" dealing with the question of urban regeneration.
Whilst conscious that as a Liverpool Property Lawyer, I will be seen as having a vested interest in making supportive comments in favour of Liverpool and the City Region, I do have the following observations:-
• It strikes me that the heritage of Liverpool is its unique selling point. From its prosperous origins as a thriving port, the City has an abundance of history, particularly reflected in its buildings which have withstood the tests of time and economic conditions. The thriving tourist economy in Liverpool is evidence of that and this must be a growing selling point for the Region, supported by the Capital of Culture status.
• The quality of life the City Region can offer now, in view of the significant rebuilding and regeneration that has occurred as reflected by the huge investment in Liverpool by Grosvenor and the resurgence of the Albert Dock supported by the new Arena make the City an extremely attractive place to work and now also to live.
• There is an inherent quality in the entrepreneurial spirit of Liverpool, which was doubtless founded in the days when the shipping trade was flourishing but which is now reflected in the diverse number of businesses that succeed from a Liverpool base, from insurance monies through to financial institutions, property developers and businesses, as well as new technology businesses.
• There is a strong case to ensure that our key cities do thrive. We need to make an effort to maintain an equilibrium within the Country with regard to commercial centres, rather than an imbalance between South and North. Manchester has made great strides in recent times towards its regeneration and Liverpool is fast following in its footsteps.
• As well as the efforts of the City Council other Local Authorities within the Region, are making strong attempts to make the Region an attractive place to live and work in and my firm as a major employer in Liverpool is finding that it is increasingly easy to attract talented Lawyers to the Region for these reasons.
• It is not a case in my view of looking at matters through "rose tinted spectacles". There is an inherent realism here in Liverpool and our political scene is far more middle ground these days, in terms of convincing businesses that we have a stable and vibrant city in which to work and prosper.
• The analysis of our strengths and weaknesses has been carried out and we have learnt from past mistakes and are putting them right. There is no doubt in my mind, that this Region provides now a thriving environment on which to build further success with a view to enhancing the attraction for businesses to relocate to the City and the City Region, based on the real benefits we have to offer.
Clive Bleasdale
Head of Property
Weightmans LLP
Cities Unlimited - an accurate review?: Dear Clive. With reference to your 3rd Observatio