Chair’s Foreword

Welcome to the 120th CPA Annual Lunch, our annual gathering in the historic surroundings of the Guildhall.

CPA’s Annual Lunch is one of the biggest in the industry’s calendar and offers a welcome opportunity to reflect on the progress made over the past year and celebrate what makes the City of London and its built environment so special.

In no small part, Shravan Joshi MBE, the now Vice Chairman of the Planning & Transportation Committee following his successful three-year term as Chairman, has played an integral role in the City of London’s resurgence post-Covid.

It is a period which has seen a dramatic rise in the number of daily workers in the Square Mile, which has grown by over 25% when compared with pre-pandemic figures and now has an annual GVA of over £100bn – the largest of any local authority in the country. The draft City Plan is expected to be adopted later this year too, setting out an ambitious vision for the future underpinned by the delivery of at least 1.2m sqm of new best-in-class office space by 2040. We look forward to working with the newly appointed Chairman of Planning & Transportation, Tom Sleigh on delivering the workplaces needed to attract occupiers and grow the City’s economy.

Indeed, the City of London has global appeal for the world’s talent and leading businesses. Its international status as a hub for business and leisure is crucial to its success. It is no surprise therefore that so many of us are keenly following events in the United States. Our keynote speaker, Janan Ganesh, will offer his perspective on the political landscape at home and abroad, drawing on his experience with the Financial Times and The Economist.

Despite the volatility overseas, our industry continues to invest, design and develop world-class buildings, confident in the City of London’s future. As CPA Chair, I am particularly proud to represent and advance the cause of our members, who play such an important role in driving the Square Mile’s economy and creating spaces where people want to live, work and play.

We hope you have an enjoyable event, celebrating a successful year so far with your colleagues, peers and guests. And thank you for your ongoing support.

Ross Sayers
CPA Chair
Landsec – Head of Development Management