Speed is of the essence for Birmingham developments

Mar 9 2009 by Alun Thorne, Birmingham Post

The global chairman of a Birmingham-based project consultancy with 80 offices in 60 countries has called on Birmingham to be “fast on its feet” in helping investors and developers to bring forward start dates on some of the developments in the city’s construction pipeline.

David Bucknall made the announcement at MIPIM 2009 in Cannes before he chaired the global board meeting of Rider Levett Bucknall.

“Birmingham City Council and its private sector partners are pulling together but to beat this recession we need to be faster on our feet and keep working to find solutions to planning and financing issues,” he said.

He revealed that Rider Levett Bucknall was at an advanced stage with a Far East financier on a plan to bring offshore funds into Birmingham to help provide affordable key worker housing for sale.