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One-on-one Interview: Javed Hussain, J2 Global

Posted 2 March 2017 by Keith Osborne

This week's exclusive interview discusses a major regeneration scheme in Luton with the developer's managing director, Javed Hussain...

With a lot of focus now on major development and regeneration outside London, we speak exclusively to Javed Hussain, managing director of J2 Global Corporation Limited, about his company’s plans for a mixed-use scheme including nearly 700 new homes in Luton, Bedfordshire.  

Hi Javed, please tell us a little about J2 Global.

The main activity of J2 Global Corporation is property development. Projects are ongoing in the UK, Turkey, Pakistan and Dubai. Our corporate ethos is to add value, not just to shareholders but to the stakeholders of the communities in which we work, by creating long-term sustainable communities.

Can you give us a run-down of the general plans for the Napier Gateway site, and what you are hoping to bring to it?

Napier Gateway is one of the biggest mixed-use development projects in Luton's history and J2 Global is very excited to be delivering 685 residential apartments, a 209-bed hotel complex including banqueting facilities, medical centre, a retail and leisure piazza as well as a public park.

The project is part of the incredible regeneration of the 24.5 hectare former Vauxhall car plant site, directly adjacent to Luton Airport Parkway station. It's the perfect site to deliver a brand new business and residential hub for the people of Luton.

When will buyers first start to be able to search for a home there, and how are things scheduled to completion?

Work has already begun onsite and homes will be on the market by the end of this year, with the entire project set to complete in 2020.

Are there any particular details about the Napier Gateway project that you are especially pleased with?

I've dedicated a lot to this project, so I love all of it, but if I had to pick one thing I'd say the residential aspect of the development. We really have put a lot of thought into what we're delivering here at Napier Gateway and we wanted to build homes that provide a good quality of life.

Overall, it's about quality not quantity, the shape and size of the apartments, the price, and the surrounding amenities, we don't just want to build new homes and leave. Luton is in desperate need of new homes, but they have to be built to the highest standards possible.

Are there other similar projects around the UK that you have admired and that have inspired you?

There's no one development or building that stands out, but we have researched extensively some of the leading London projects. Within just 30 minutes of the capital, Napier Gateway will inevitably appeal to London commuters, as well as locals, so we have to match what's on offer in central London. It's a buzz word, but quality is really key to this. We want to provide homes of a high standard, with expansive living spaces, high-specification finishes, all set within beautiful surroundings, but retaining a competitive price point that is accessible to a broad spectrum of purchasers.

In fact, it's not a project, but an initiative that we have great respect for and that's the Home Quality Mark (HQM), a national standard for new homes, developed by the BRE, which uses a five-star rating to provide impartial information from independent experts on a new home's design, construction quality and running costs, something important for both developers and end users.

What are Luton's qualities that will attract potential homebuyers?

Luton is undergoing an incredible period of transformation, with Napier Gateway just one of a number of developments that are changing the face of the town. London Luton Airport is currently undergoing a £110m transformation, with other projects including a new £150m 22,500-seater football and concert stadium, as well as an expansion of the Luton Cultural Quarter and improved public transport interchange facilities in Luton town centre.

One that really stands out to me that will help attract homebuyers to the town is the 395-acre enterprise zone being delivered close to the Napier Gateway site. The enterprise zone will consist of three linked sites surrounding Luton Airport: Stirling Place, Century Park and Airport Business Park, creating over 7,000 new jobs for both locals and out-of-towners. They will all need somewhere to live and Napier Gateway, especially due to its close proximity, would be the perfect location for this new workforce.

Are you looking to bring a certain range of buyers to the new site, or will there be something for everyone?

The fact we're on a fantastic site so close to the train station will certainly help attract a new range of buyers at the site, especially those looking for London-standard homes within a short commute of the city. However, we want to build a brand new community at the development that attracts a wide spectrum of buyers, from those interested in the luxury private sale apartments to the private rented units.

What might buyers find with you that they haven't experienced with some of the more widely known housebuilders?

I keep saying it, but again the quality of the new homes on Napier Gateway will really showcase what J2 Global is all about as a developer. We are working with some of the finest construction companies in the country to ensure that when complete the homes are finished to the highest possible standards. This is the biggest project in our history and we're fully aware of the responsibility upon us to make sure we provide the absolute best homes possible for the people of Luton and those coming to live in this great town.

If you were minister for housing, what measures would you take to tackle the national UK housing shortage?

I'd commission more building on the green belt. I understand the emotional aspects of the green belt and those that want to preserve Britain's great and beautiful land, but we have to accept we're in the middle of a serious housing crisis. Conceding just 1% of land currently classified as green belt land would free up enough capacity to build over 300,000 new homes - that's an incredible amount for such a small amount green space.

However, the homes that are built have to be of the highest quality, we must ensure that we don't find ourselves in the same situation again in 20-30 years time, so if I had the power I'd also stringently vet developers to make sure they intend to build homes that last, are comfortable to live in and have as minimal impact on the environment as possible - again HQM could help provide the correct guidance to achieve that.


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