Better Places

In the latest episode of Concilio’s Better Places podcast. Account Director Siddo Dwyer sat down with Lambeth’s Cllr Rezina Chowdhury – Deputy Leader of the Council (Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air).  The episode focused on current challenges and policies that she has overseen not just in Lambeth but ones that have had a London wide effect. This included: How Cllr Chowdhury’s upbringing and decade of experience in local government have shaped her policy outlook Her message to developers about helping shape the borough of Lambeth and it being open to sustainable development Lambeth’s race to achieve Net Zero by 2030 Its groundbreaking Climate Action Plan The borough’s transformative approach to the Kerbside Innovative policies addressing air quality and active travel The role of retrofitting in achieving Net-Zero goals We do hope you enjoy this insightful conversation, you can listen to the episode here.

We are delighted to share with you the first episode of Concilio’s Better Places podcast for 2025. Our Managing Director Nick Dines sat down with the country’s highest rated planning solicitor – Simon Ricketts, Partner at Town Legal. In this latest episode of the Better Places podcast Nick and Simon sought to summarise the key planning and local government changes announced by the Government in the run-up to Christmas, discussing: The 12-week requirement for local authorities to commit to a new timetable for Local Plans What the presumption in favour of sustainable development must have real teeth means for councils without a Plan in place The Five-Year Housing Land Supply implications Clarity on the ‘Grey Belt’ definition The impact of the London Plan being used as a model for Mayoral Strategic Authorities in developing Spatial Development Strategies Whether councils can manage the workload given all the announced changes For more information about Concilio, visit our website here - https://conciliocomms.com

On the latest edition of the Concilio Better Places Podcast, Account Director Siddo Dwyer sat down with the Leader of Southwark Council, Cllr Kieron Williams.  The interview focussed on the Southwark Council’s recently published Securing the Future of Council Housing report. Over 100 councils formed an unprecedented coalition to identify five practical solutions for a fairer funding deal and reforms to kick-start the construction of new homes. This surrounds an ongoing debate about plans to retrofit council properties and measures to bring their stock up to decent standard. We also discuss his journey as Leader of the Council, tackling the housing crisis, and the planning policies shaping Southwark today. To hear this compelling discussion with Cllr Williams you can listen here!

On the latest edition of Better Places, we sat down with leading industry professionals across the property and planning sectors. We were delighted to interview Andy Cox - Director at Trigon development managers, Cat Fraser – Director at Turley planners, and Arron Taggart – Head of UK Investment at Cheyne Capital on their perspective as professionals in the field. Hosted by our very own Siddo Dwyer, this was a fascinating discussion that sparked a lively debate on how our panel have shaped award-winning places and buildings across London, examining scheme viability, the need for community engagement and dynamics dominating the real estate investment market. The panel also dived into what they wanted to see from the new Labour government’s long-awaited planning policy changes in the United Kingdom. We hope you find it as insightful as we have!

On our latest episode, Director Catherine Rose and Account Director Siddo Dwyer hosted a live recording of our Better Places Podcast at Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. The panel explored the ways in which English devolution can be delivered in support of the new Labour government’s mission to build 1.5million new homes, how to deliver the required infrastructure to support this and how to bring local communities along through effective engagement.  The panel included:  John Denham – Director of English Labour Network  Cllr Vince Maple – Leader, Medway Council  Cllr Anthony Okereke – Leader, Greenwich Council  Brenda Dacres – Mayor of Lewisham  Cllr Shama Tatler – Cabinet Member for Regeneration Planning & Growth, Brent Council  Graeme Craig – Chief Exec of Places for London  Kevin Henson – Partner at Gerald Eve

On our latest edition of the better places podcast, we have a Haringey special and are joined by the trio of Cllr Ruth Gordon –the Cabinet Member for Housebuilding, Placemaking and Development, David Joyce –the Corporate Director for Housing, Regeneration and Planning and Robbie Erbmann –the Assistant Director for Housing. In an insightful conversation with our Account Director Siddo Dwyer, a compelling discussion drew on the borough being open to investment, its placemaking schemes, council homes programmes, and Haringey being named the London Borough of Culture 2027. Concilio has considerable experience in Haringey, especially around Tottenham Hale, where working with Berkeley Square Developments we have helped to deliver: 315 BtR apartments at Ashley Gardens 108 social rent homes delivered for Haringey Council at Rosa Luxemburg Apartments 123 apartments at Station Square West, operated by Newlon 166 BtR apartments at The Gessne A Premier Inn hotel Alongside this we are currently working on a major residential development in Crouch End

Cllr Anthony Okereke the Leader of the Council of the Royal Borough of Greenwich joins us for the latest instalment of the Better Places podcast. Anthony provides great insight into the past decade of growth in the borough and the measures his local authority is taking in enhancing its town centres, creating new places, the Royal Borough's Cultural Hub, and renewing its estates to meet the increased demand for housing.

In our latest edition we are joined by Cllr Andrew Judge the Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable Development in the London Borough of Merton. In a detailed and wide-ranging discussion Andrew lays out the plans for regenerating Merton’s high streets and town centres and touches on Merton’s cash injection from the Mayor of London. Andrew also examines the significance of initiatives that has made Merton London’s Borough of Sport and what the future holds in addressing general housing needs while encouraging investment as the borough expands its sport and leisure offer across the borough.

In this episode, we are joined by Cllr Omid Miri, Chair of Hammersmith & Fulham's Planning and Development Control Committee and aspiring London Assembly candidate for the London-wide list. Councillor Miri provides an insight into his experience as the Chair of Hammersmith & Fulham's Planning and Development Control Committee, the barriers to building more homes in the borough and the challenges facing development across the capital. Cllr Miri also discusses his pitch for the London Assembly London-wide list seat whilst looking ahead to the London and general elections taking place this year.

In this episode, Concilio’s Nathan Parsad-Wyatt is joined by Councillor Geoff Barraclough, Cabinet Member for Planning & Economic Development in the City of Westminster, to discuss all aspects of planning and development in 2024. Councillor Barraclough provides a comprehensive update on policy, outlines the key priorities of the administration, and shares his insights on a significant year of elections ahead.