AN iconic figure is needed to champion the region and encourage investment, a panel of property experts has heard.

The North-East is lacking someone in the mould of Sir John Hall or Boris Johnson to help attract developers and represent the region, the North-East Property Forum was told.

The comments were made by John Holmes, an expert in urban regeneration who has worked for One North East and is now head of property for Durham Cathedral.

Mr Holmes told the forum that he believed the regional development agencies were being wound up too quickly and the Local Enterprise Partnerships would need a lot of support from both the private and public sector.

He said: “The North-East needs champions like Sir John Hall who are determined at getting investment.

“John always spoke up for the North-East and you don’t see many of those people round these days.

“Who is going to be the ambassador for the North-East?

Who’s going to do what Michael Heseltine and Sir Terry Leahy have done for Liverpool or Boris Johnson for London?”

The forum, which was hosted by The Northern Echo in conjunction with Latimer Hinks Solicitors, heard from members that while business had been difficult there were a few positives.

Mark McKelvey, from property management company GVA, said there was still demand for good quality sites, although some developers were “land banking” them until the market picked up.

He said: “Low-cost house builders are looking to buy sites. Also supermarket operators are still looking for the right location and retirement home operators.

“But it’s all very fragile.”

David Jackson, of Sanderson Weatherall, said schemes such as the proposed Hitachi factory in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, and the reopened SSI plant, in Redcar, could create extra demand in the future.

However, he added: “There is definitely a shortage of quality commercial space and we are not going to see any new builds and you can’t finance it and the empty rates would kill it.”

Other problems included first-time buyers obtaining mortgages and also surveyors down-valuing houses once a sale had been agreed. Forum members in attendance were: David Jackson, Sanderson Weatherall; Gordon Carver, Carvers; Ian Taylor, Your Move; Scott-Collier Taylor; Jamie Cameron, Stanton Mortimer; Katherine Kitching, The Northern Echo; Mark McKelvey, GVA; Nicola Neilson, Latimer Hinks; Jessica Card, George F White.