Ross Sayers elected CPA Chair

Ross Sayers (Head of Development Management, Landsec) has been formally elected as the new CPA Chair for a two-year term.

Ross takes over the leadership from Gareth Roberts (Head of Development - Science & Technology and Standalone Projects, British Land) following the conclusion of his successful two-year term. His exemplary stewardship of the CPA has been instrumental in the Association’s continued strength.

In an address to members and stakeholders following his appointment at the CPA Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, Ross set out the business priorities for the first year of his tenure:

1. A place to thrive: Support the City’s economic resilience and its role as a global destination for business and investment.
2. A place to play & relax: Champion the City of London Corporation’s Destination City vision.
3. A place for the future: Continue to promote best practice environmental sustainability to deliver a Net Zero City.
4. A place founded on fairness & equity: Advocate for social sustainability, including diversity in the industry and the social value of development.

He added: “It will be an interesting year to come in as Chair of the CPA. We've got the 2040 City Plan going out for consultation at the moment. We've got the Mayoral elections ongoing this week and there's an impending General Election. Over the next year, there’s a huge amount of work for us to do as a property association to make sure the voice of the property industry is heard.” Read more about CPA's priorities during Ross' tenure as Chair in EG (£) here.

CPA Annual Report

Published to coincide with our AGM, the CPA Annual Report provides a summary of the Association’s key activities between April 2023 and March 2024. It covers the three core focuses of our work, providing information on research, policy engagement and campaigns as well as membership activities. You can read the full report below.

Read our latest report

On behalf of CPA and WPA, London Property Alliance has released a Mayoral Manifesto calling on the incoming Mayor of London to utilise their powers over planning, economic development and transport to bolster central London’s potential for growth and drive employment. Read more here.

Events

Register now for our breakfast seminar, Circular Economy and the City. Our expert speakers will discuss the onsite circular economy methods and techniques being used to reduce embodied carbon emissions across leading commercial development projects in the City of London.

Date: Thursday 6 June

Time: 8:00am – 10:00am

Location: Nuveen, 201 Bishopsgate, Moorgate, EC2M 3BN

Sign up for our breakfast seminar marking the launch of London Property Alliance's newest report, AI and the Built Environment. Commissioned by CPA and WPA NextGen committees, this major piece of research will explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is impacting jobs and skills within the property industry and what those from within the sector see as its key opportunities and challenges.

Date: Wednesday 29 May

Time: 8:00am – 10:00am

Venue: Arup, 80 Charlotte Street, Bloomsbury, W1T 4Qs

Join us for our annual NextGen Summer Reception, bringing together young property professionals from across the CPA and WPA’s networks. We are pleased to announce that this year’s reception will be held on the terrace of G&T's London offices in Fitzrovia and will feature a keynote speech from Muyiwa Oki, the youngest-ever President of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

Date: Wednesday 17 July

Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: Gardiner & Theobald, 10 South Crescent, WC1E 7BD

City Corporation updates

Planning & Transportation Committee update

The City of London Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee met on 30 April to elect new members to the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee. New members included Alastair Moss (Partner, Hill Dickinson).

The Committee also approved an application for a change of use, from a betting office to a 
mix of restaurant and drinking establishments, for the Arches 9A - 9B Crutched Friars, Fenchurch Street Station. The application originally proposed a change of use to a night club and music venue, however this was removed following objections from residents. Read more here.

Reminder: Planning for Sustainability SPD

The City Corporation’s Planning for Sustainability Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) consultation closes on 17 May. The document contains key elements of advice for developers on retrofit and re-use, whole life carbon emissions and circular economy principles. Submit your thoughts here.

Uncover Roman ruins in the heart of the Square Mile

Billingsgate Roman House and Baths has reopened for public tours. Visitors can discover a rare glimpse into Roman life, exploring the remains of the house’s walls, courtyard and baths. It is part of the City of London Corporation’s flagship Destination City programme, which sets out a vision for the Square Mile to become a world-leading leisure destination. Read more here. 

Partner events

Lunch and Learn: How to Achieve Good Business Accreditation

Heart of the City is hosting a free online seminar to discuss how to become accredited and why it’s important to your business. The session will be led by Jenny Herrera, CEO of the Good Business Charter, an accreditation scheme that champions and encourages responsible business behaviour. Jenny will provide an introduction to the Good Business Charter and its significance for SMEs committed to responsible business practices.

Date: Wednesday 22 May
Time: 12.00pm - 12:45pm
Venue: Online

In case you missed it

• Good news for London’s property market as US investment rebounds
• Race for City Hall: Polls narrow on final day as Sadiq Khan’s lead over Susan Hall shrinks to just 10 points
• Have your say on the City Plan 2040
• City Corporation resolves to grant permission for London Wall West development

Member resources

Planning news

Both CPA and WPA members have access to our comprehensive database of all major decisions from central London's major planning committees. These can be viewed on our Planning News page.

Research

Diversity Guidebooks

For more details on all of the property news stories in the central London boroughs over the last seven days please visit the news section of the London Planning website.