黑洞社区

鈥淲e could build in London non-stop for ever and a day. As a global city it sucks in people and you can never meet demand,鈥� says Jim, who seems awed by the prospect.

For a moment everyone is lost for words. The sun begins to set; we all gaze at the capital from 42 storeys up and sip our pink champagne.

John is the first to break the silence. He鈥檚 keen to take us on a virtual tour of all the capital鈥檚 鈥渧alue hotspots鈥� before darkness falls. We start in the East End where John indicates all the regeneration that is to take place in the Thames Gateway, on the Olympic site and the Lee Valley.

It鈥檚 this sort of strategic planning that London needs says John, with a sweeping motion of this hand. In fact, when Ken Livingstone gets his new planning powers, he鈥檒l be able to drive through regeneration without the log-jams.

Jim is quick to make clear that 鈥渓ocal accountability鈥� for planning decisions is still essential.

John concedes that planning needs checks and balances 鈥� a strong individual and a collective local voice. 鈥淚鈥檓 a democrat,鈥� he states firmly, and nobody dissents.

We鈥檙e now looking out at Arsenal鈥檚 Emirates stadium. Everyone agrees this is the perfect example of the private sector helping to regenerate an area. But, despite our best efforts, the conversation veers from affordable housing to the less worthy topic of football.

It turns out that King Sturge has a corporate box at Arsenal. Then John reveals he鈥檚 a Fulham fan, which is news to Thomas. 鈥淎re you Fulham? I can鈥檛 believe it, I鈥檝e got a season ticket.鈥�

John is quick to see the potential: 鈥淵ou鈥檙e gonna take me to a game then. I only live a few minutes down the road.鈥�

Jim, a Yorkshireman, is less than impressed 鈥� he鈥檚 a dedicated Leeds supporter. He used to enjoy playing, too. 鈥淓very Sunday, till my knees packed in,鈥� he says with regret.

By this time we鈥檝e passed the King鈥檚 Cross site and have finished up at Elephant & Castle. But the talk has leap-frogged to the RICS charity quiz night and its James Bond theme. John鈥檚 team, he asserts, was in joint first place until a tricky question about the Octopussy theme tune. For a moment, he is tempted to sing it to us.

The bill arrives 鈥� the moment I鈥檝e been dreading even more than John鈥檚 singing. John takes out his credit card. It鈥檚 clear 黑洞社区鈥檚 attempt to buy a pint is about to be undermined. I protest, but not too much. At 拢70 for a bottle of bubbly, it seems only right that the property consultant is allowed to demonstrate its largesse 鈥�