What do doctors, teachers, lawyers, accountants and property developers all have in common? The answer is they are all needed to create a modern sustainable society.
Most private sector companies started as the result of someone seeing a business opportunity, whether that was the Principal of a law firm or the owner of a High Street shop; one day they stood up and took a risk on a business venture. Such entrepreneurial people should be praised for being enterprising and creating employment.
Belfast is no different to any other city in that it is a metropolitan area with a built environment that continually needs to change. When buildings become no longer suitable for purpose responsible property development is required. There are many new office buildings being built and planned for Belfast. The majority of these schemes become a reality not as a result of public sector bureaucracy, but as a result of individuals who had the foresight and vision to identify the opportunities.
Unlike law and accountancy where specific courses of study, followed by structured qualifications have to be attained, property development is not a recognised profession. Property developers identify opportunities and put in place their own teams which include designers, contractors and financiers – all usually with little or no public sector support and a calculated degree of risk.
The message here is that responsible property development should be welcomed and recognised as an important part of society. Without visionary property developers, the new buildings and offices which are required for the jobs that have been created as a result of foreign direct investment would not become a reality. Lets support responsible property development in 2020.
Comments