Around the Table: A podcast by Building Relations

Hosted by Building Relations

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Latest episode

Apr 2026

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EN-GB

About the show

This podcast will try and unpick some of the current housing stories taking the industry by storm including the transition to net zero, rising construction costs, skill shortages and new policies and legislation. Across this series, we will be joined by several experts to tackle some of these issues and opportunities for the housebuilding industry.

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23 recent

April 20, 2026Episode 2441 min

Building Resilience in Property- Mental Health, Leadership and Staying Active

In this episode of Around the Table, Rachel Colgan is joined by Andrew Link of Property Sports Network, adventurer and mental resilience speaker Alex Staniforth, and Caroline Richardson of Vistry to explore mental health, leadership and staying active in the built environment.Together, they discuss why resilience is not just about pushing through pressure, but about creating healthier workplaces, stronger teams and better communities. From active networking and leadership culture to social value, placemaking and access to green space, this is a conversation about how the property sector can better support wellbeing while improving performance and retention.Music credit: Uppbeat OAKTY4TYK7ENPSSW

March 5, 2026Episode 2332 min

Zero Bills Living: How it works for housebuilders

Zero Bills homes are moving from headline to delivery reality, but what does it actually take to make them work?In this episode of Around the Table, Rachel Colgan is joined by Hannah McCarthy (Octopus Energy), Leon Beale (Thakeham) and Oliver Luard (Greencore Homes) to unpack how Zero Bills living works in practice - from solar, heat pumps and batteries through to fair use allowances, commissioning and customer handover We explore what housebuilders need to get right from the outset, the lessons learned from early adopters, and why performance-led developers are now building Zero Bills into their standard house types If the housing sector is serious about decarbonising at pace while offering greater certainty on running costs, this conversation makes one thing clear: joined-up delivery models are fast becoming the direction of travel.Music credit: Uppbeat OAKTY4TYK7ENPSSW

January 12, 2026Episode 2235 min

Skill, Baby, Skill: Solving the UK’s Construction Workforce Crisis

Britain’s ambition to build 1.5 million new homes is under serious threat from a growing skills shortage. In this episode of Around the Table, host Rachel Colgan, of Building Relations PR is joined by William Walsh of Barratt David Wilson Kent and Roger Morton from NHBC to explore how the sector can rebuild its workforce.Together, they discuss apprenticeships, training hubs, new career pathways, digital skills and the policy interventions needed to attract, train and retain the next generation - turning “build, baby, build” into “skill, baby, skill.”Music credit: Uppbeat OAKTY4TYK7ENPSSW

November 27, 202541 min

Can we build 'New Towns' that work for people, economy, and planet?

The UK Government’s 'New Towns Strategy' sets out the boldest housing ambition in a generation - but can we really build at scale and create great places to live?In this episode of Around the Table, host Helen Tinlin from Building Relations is joined by: • Paul Silver, CEO, Dorchester Living(developers behind Heyford Park, recently announced as one of the Government’s new towns) • Andrew Matthews, Co-founder, Proctor & Matthews Architects • Melanie Leech, Chief Executive, British Property FederationTogether they explore what it really takes to plan and deliver modern new towns - from design, placemaking and sustainability to funding, political commitment and community trust. Drawing on lessons from Heyford Park and decades of planning history, our guests ask whether new towns can become the generational legacy Britain needs.Music credit: Uppbeat OAKTY4TYK7ENPSSW

September 24, 2025Episode 2035 min

Housing Needs Architects

With more architects involved in designing new homes, the results can be better for everyone - from developers to communities. Host Natalie Daniels is joined by Keith Bradley (Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios) and Simon Vernon-Harcourt (City & Country) to explore how design can shape thriving neighbourhoods, balance local character with innovation, and meet modern expectations around sustainability, wellbeing, and accessibility. Music credit: Uppbeat OAKTY4TYK7ENPSSW

August 26, 2025Episode 191 hr 1 min

Why Aren’t We Building More Passivhaus Schemes in London?

Passivhaus is often called the gold standard for low-energy homes - but why has it been slow to take off in London? Host Kathryn Reucroft is joined by Attzaz Rashid (Barratt London), Dr Joel Callow (Beyond Carbon), and Sarah Lewis (UK Passivhaus Trust) to explore the challenges, misconceptions, and opportunities of scaling Passivhaus in the capital, and what Barratt’s landmark rollout could mean for the future of sustainable housing. Music credit: Uppbeat OAKTY4TYK7ENPSSW

July 29, 2025Episode 1832 min

Can Downsizing Solve the UK’s Housing Crisis?

Is downsizing the key to solving the UK’s housing crisis? With £2.9 trillion of property wealth tied up in under-occupied homes, host Laura Hellon-Hughes talks to Lucian Cook (Savills) and Steve Bangs (Pegasus Homes) about breaking barriers, reshaping perceptions, and why “rightsizing” could unlock homes and transform later living. Music credit: Uppbeat OAKTY4TYK7ENPSSW

June 23, 2025Episode 1740 min

How Shall We Build - How Shall We Live?

In this powerful and timely episode of Around the Table, we ask not just how many homes the UK should build – but how we build, and how we want to live.As the government announces a landmark £39bn housing boost, our panel explores the bold ideas behind Human Nature’s new “How Shall We Live” report – a radical yet practical vision to tackle climate breakdown, housing unaffordability, social isolation, and economic fragility, all through how and where we build.Host Rachel Colgan, Founding Director of Building Relations PR, is joined by:Joanna Yarrow - Chief Impact Officer, Human NatureBrogan MacDonald - Head of Sustainability, Ramboll UK (Buildings)Jon DiStefano - CEO, Greencore HomesTogether, they explore:Why we need to move from building units to building communitiesHow nature-based materials can remove carbon at scaleWhat radical affordability really means – beyond house pricesThe role of place in supporting health, connection, and belongingReal delivery models proving that better is not only possible – it’s already happeningMusic credit: Uppbeat OAKTY4TYK7ENPSSW

May 21, 2025Episode 1633 min

The Rise and Future of Single Family Housing

In this insightful episode, we explore the dramatic rise of Single Family Housing (SFH) as one of the UK’s fastest-growing residential sectors – and ask what it means for renters, investors, housebuilders, and communities.Host Rachel Colgan from Building Relations PR is joined by:Piers de Winton (Savills) – lead author of the latest SFH report and a key voice on UK residential investment strategyLottie Outen (Kennedy Wilson) – sharing a global investor’s perspective on the scale, ESG demands, and opportunity aheadSimon Pendlebury (Dandara) – offering boots-on-the-ground insight into delivering 200+ purpose-built homes at LinmereTogether, they unpack the trends reshaping the Build-to-Rent landscape and why institutional investors are betting big on houses, not just apartments.Topics include:Why SFH now makes up over 50% of Build-to-Rent investmentWhat renters really want – and how housebuilders are adaptingHow institutional capital is driving better ESG standardsThe future of design, delivery, and operational modelsPractical lessons from delivering sustainable homes at scaleA must-listen for developers, investors, planners, or anyone curious about how SFH is redefining suburban renting – and the long-term shape of the UK housing market.Music credit: Uppbeat OAKTY4TYK7ENPSSWMusic credit: Uppbeat OAKTY4TYK7ENPSSW

April 30, 2025Episode 1540 min

Does Building Sustainable New Homes Need to Cost the Earth?

In this thought-provoking episode, we ask whether sustainable housing really needs to come with a higher price tag. Host Charlotte Radcliffe from Building Relations PR is joined by Michael Pratt (Invertay Homes & Timber Engineering UK), Professor Robert Hairstans (Edinburgh Napier University and NMITE), and Sue Riddlestone OBE (Bioregional) to explore how to build greener, more affordable homes without compromising on quality or ambition.Topics include:The cost myths around sustainable homesBenefits of fabric-first design and modern methods of construction (MMC)Circular economy principles and material reusePolicy, finance, and skills gaps impacting deliveryReal-world insights from sustainable housing pioneersA must-listen for anyone working in housing, development, construction, or policy who wants to scale sustainability without scaling cost.Music credit: Uppbeat OAKTY4TYK7ENPSSWMusic credit: Uppbeat OAKTY4TYK7ENPSSW