RICS president Robert Peto has warned the government against taking a short-term approach to public property, with three weeks left until the comprehensive spending review.

Speaking to Public Property UK, Peto said the public sector’s task of making savings that pay back within the next three years would create an “unreasonable expectation” for property.

He said people should not expect too much too early of the head of the government’s Property Unit, John McCready, as he tries to find savings on the central government estate.

“People look for quick responses from governments, but the real issue for us in real estate is the spending review.

“To do what [McCready] is charged to do will take years to deliver. It must be a five to ten to 15 year strategy, not a one to two year strategy.”

Peto also gave his views on the ban on new government leases and whether the spending review could lead to any more work for the property industry.

• ACES conference: RICS president warns of double dip
• How Spending Review cuts affect everyone in property
• More pain to follow in deficit battle, warns IFS
• Public property is “ripe for cuts”, says CIPD
• Spending Review: Government confirms two property vehicles