Hats off to both sides for having the gumption to take on some of the thorniest contemporary topics in retail property, and for doing so in front of their peers.
It might not have made for the most comfortable of mornings hearing landlords and retailers cross swords over the vexed questions of monthly rents but it was a fascinating and useful debate.
Hammerson’s David Atkins and Grosvenor’s Neil Barber deserve particular credit for agreeing to enter what was something of a lion’s den last week.
Being the only landlords in a room of retailers is nobody’s idea of fun but both were brave enough to take on the difficult questions and reach out to retailers on the areas of common ground.
Of course there wasn’t an excess of optimism in the room, but the fact is there is still a dialogue going on.
It’s a given that times are tough, but it’s also a given that there are still areas where both retailers and landlords can agree and work together.
What is so useful about events like the Property Directors Forum is that they are the perfect opportunity to be honest and open and see that these important pieces of common ground are not forgotten.
The problems that we are all facing at the moment are not likely to go away any time soon, but that makes it all the more important that communication is not lost.
Long may the channels remain open.
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