Place Podcast (Place North)

In the latest Place North West podcast, ITS’s Dave Ferry and Liverpool City Region’s Lorna Rodgers break down what ‘full-fibre’ means, why it is important and what is being done to futureproof the region.

Accelerating the delivery of buildings of all shapes and sizes is imperative if our towns and cities are to thrive and a piece of software developed by VU.CITY is doing just that. 

Claire Locke, commercial director at VU.CITY, sat down with Place North West senior reporter Dan Whelan to explain how Site Solve, the firm’s generative design tool, works. 

They were joined by Dave Lee, director at Clarion Housing Group, who talked about how the tool is helping the housing association’s development arm Latimer streamline its processes. 

Find out more about VU.CITY here.

This week on Scheming, the founder and managing director of Cert Property chats with Place North West about how the 2008 financial crash forced him down the development route, defying the market in Liverpool, and using creative industries as a driver for regeneration. Get every vital update on th ebuilt environment for FREE - subscribe to Place North here: placenorth.co.uk

Retrofitting is a necessity as the UK forges ahead with its plan to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. So how should we approach retrofitting to produce the best possible results? Civic Engineers director James Bruce divulges his three top tips for retrofits and delves into several case studies to show what his tips look like in practice. If you are considering breathing new life into a beloved building, this is an episode you will not want to miss.

Find out more about Civic Engineers: civicengineers.com

Understanding conservation deficit and the importance of consulting with the local community were some of the key messages Buttress Architects’ director Stephen Anderson was keen to hammer home in this first episode of our masterclass podcast series.

In this episode, Anderson talks us through the dos and don’ts of bringing a heritage asset back into use before providing insights into the process gleaned from recent North West projects.

The UK is pinning many of its growth hopes to the life sciences sector. But will labs turn out to be as lucrative as previously thought? Plus: Rental houses are beating flats in the war for investment and a shed in Doncaster attracts a £54m cash injection.

Subscribe to The Subplot for FREE via placenorth.co.uk

Vacancy rates are climbing in the North's major office market - but landlords, investors, and agents are upbeat. Why? Place North analysis editor David Thame digs into the numbers. Plus: Why Brits in property should care about the US election.

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Craig O’Donnell, group innovation director of the global property developer, talks to Paul Unger about future-proofing businesses and testing out new ideas.

Discover more on placetech.net

Next year, Place North is doing MIPIM differently and will run the show’s first-ever exhibition stand dedicated to the North of England. Find out how you can get involved by listening to this podcast.

Place North’s mission is to shine a light on Northern towns and cities. MIPIM 2025 will position those places, and the businesses regenerating them, on the global stage, providing an opportunity for them to showcase plans, share knowledge, and champion the North.

For more information on the MIPIM opportunities on offer, visit mipim.placenorth.co.uk or contact Dino Moutsopoulos on 07803 988112.

On this episode of Place North West’s COP26 podcast series, HBD and Cundall discuss why some developers are taking it upon themselves to get ahead of the curve in terms of sustainability, while government legislation on the issue lags behind.

Lee Treanor, director at HDB, and Paul Kenyon, partner at multi-disciplinary practice Cundall, also explore how the term ‘net zero’ is being used and misused and what more can be done to help people tell fact from fiction when claims about a building’s carbon credentials are made.

Could a single, formalised framework like Nabers provide the development community a clearer, more defined path towards net zero? Will brown discounts and green premiums become a reality in the future as many predict?

To find out more, visit hbd.co.uk

Blackstone's mega data centre has risen from the ashes of BritishVolt's Northumberland dreams. Place North analysis editor David Thame explores the stalling EV revolution and what that means for the push for data centres. Plus: good news all around for Leeds offices and Newcastle BTR.

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In this latest episode of Place North West’s COP26 podcast series, TLT legal director Joseph Meredith takes us through the nuanced world of landlord/tenant relationships in the net-zero era.

The drive for net-zero is not going away and there are thousands of commercial buildings across the country that need to be brought in line with changing legislation and expectations.

But who should foot the bill for this work, those who own the buildings or those who use them?

Visit TLT to find out more about its services.

In this podcast episode, Place North publisher Paul Unger revisits the final interview he conducted with Bernstein during his last week in office at the town hall.

The interview is a snapshot in time, and the audio recording has never before been published.

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Paul Unger is joined by Savills' director Jeremy Hinds and applied research consultant Paul Sayers to discuss climate change and how the rise in water levels could affect planning and property.

Watch This Space founder Michelle Rothwell chats with Place North West about incredible feats of endurance, how her competitive streak has shaped her career, and developing something unique in the Lake District.

Never miss an episode. Subscribe to Place North West for FREE at placenorthwest.co.uk/subscribe

This podcast is brought to you in association with VM Finance. To find out more, visit: www.vmfinanceltd.com

Despite delays to the promised government reforms on planning, housing minister Matthew Pennycook has outlined ambitions to bring back regional spatial strategies. Place North analysis editor David Thame digs into the how and why. Plus - rent controls and Manchester offices.

Regenerating brownfield sites surrounding transport infrastructure is the key topic in this podcast with Rochdale Council and Broadway Malyan.

As we push for more brownfield developments, creating communities around areas like train stations seems like a no-brainer. Using the Rochdale Rail Corridor as a jumping-off point, Broadway Malyan’s Danny Crump and Rochdale Council’s cabinet member for economy Cllr John Blundell give a crash course on maximising the potential of these transport infrastructure hotspots.

For more information, visit investinrochdale.co.uk.

Marcus Ginn, founder and CEO of Edozo, joins Paul Unger, editor of PlaceTech, to discuss the problems Edozo sets out to solve within the property industry, trends within the market, Edozo's product roadmap, why they have joined the Reach UK Accelerator Programme, and much more.

Find out more about Edozo: edozo.com

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Stockport Council leader Wilson, and former Trafford Council leader Anstee, now executive director at Cratus Communications, discuss how Covid-19 has impacted them personally and professionally, and what it means for the future of place making and community engagement, in this Place North West podcast.

This podcast was sponsored by Cratus Communications and hosted by Sarah Townsend, editor of Place North West.

Questions asked in this episode:

• What have been the biggest challenges you’ve had to grapple with over the past eight months?
• What is the role of local authorities in stimulating greater confidence among local businesses and communities?
• How successful has the move towards digital planning and public consultation been in engaging hard-to-reach stakeholders
• What needs to happen to ensure that local economies are resilient and well positioned to bounce back quickly from the pandemic-enforced slowdown?
• What further collaboration is required between city regions, central Government and the private sector to drive that hoped-for recovery?
• Aside from a vaccine roll-out, what are your top asks for 2021 that would help the region, and the country, emerge robust from a rough period?

From high rates of graduate retention to a lack of green space, experts on this podcast brought to you by Alliance Investments explore the city’s strengths and weaknesses in the eyes of people looking to plough their money into property. 

Arik Agamian, sales director at Alliance Investments, and Louise Emmott, managing director at Kingsdene, sat down with Place North West senior reporter Dan Whelan to discuss what Manchester has going for it and what it must improve on. 

Subscribe to our FREE Daily Briefing newsletter here: https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/subscribe/

Find out more about Alliance Investments: https://www.alliance-investments.com/

The property industry is keeping a close eye on Labour’s promise to deliver the next generation of new towns. This podcast, brought to you by Brookbanks, explores what actually goes into unlocking and delivering large-scale projects.

Paul Boileau and Fran Taylor, chairman and associate director at Brookbanks respectively, sat down with Place North West deputy editor Dan Whelan to discuss, from start to finish, the process of delivering major residential-led developments.

Subscribe to Place North West for free at placenorthwest.co.uk/subscribe

The property industry thinks Labour's manifesto may be hard to deliver, if Angela Rayner's recent UKREiiF speech is any guide. Place North analysis editor David Thame digs into new towns, leasehold reform, and Grey Belt. Plus: Levelling up in Doncaster.

Subscribe for the latest news on the built environment for free at placenorth.co.uk

This week on Scheming, Liverpool City Council’s corporate director of city development chats with Place North West about looking to mainland Europe for placemaking inspiration, bringing a beach in London, and setting a new tone in Liverpool.

An architect by trade, Gallagher’s career has seen her work in New York, London, and plenty of other places in between. During the podcast, she talks about some of what she has learned with Place North West deputy editor Dan Whelan.

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Wind energy is the future of sustainable power, so how can we maximise its potential? Pegasus Group executive planning director Chris Calvert and environment director Dale Turner join Julia Hatmaker to weigh in on the opportunities and obstacles surrounding wind energy in this episode of Place North West’s COP26 podcast series.

To find out more, visit pegasusgroup.co.uk

A fortune awaits the bold and the brave who are ready to face the monsters endangering the property market. Place North analysis editor David Thame digs into where the opportunity lies - and what pitfalls face our heroes. Plus: a look at Northern economies and Sunderland's high streets.

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Take a peek into the ups and downs of the next few years of regional policy with a trip to Huddersfield, West Yorkshire's potential wonderland. Let Place North analysis editor David Thame be your white rabbit. Plus: Renaker lawsuits and press release squabbles.

In this special PlaceTech podcast episode, Jeremy Hinds, planning director at Savills, joins Paul Unger, editor of PlaceTech, to talk about how predicted weather patterns and changes in climate will shape how we plan and design our future cities.

Find out more about Savills: savills.co.uk

PlaceTech is the sister publication to Place North West, focussing on tech, innovation and trends within the proptech environment. To find out more, visit: placetech.net

Like many places, Rochdale was hard hit by the financial crash of 2008. In this podcast, senior reporter Dan Whelan chatted to Neil Eccles, head of innovation at Rochdale Development Agency, and Steve Rumbelow, chief executive of Rochdale Council, about how the council and private sector went about reinventing the town and how it plans to supercharge its growth going forward.

Get inside the US National Association of Realtors’s property tech ventures with Dan Weisman, director of emerging tech trends; Natasha Terinova, director of accelerator programme Reach UK; and Tyler Thompson, managing partner of its investment fund Second Century Ventures.

With 1.3m members, the NAR is the largest trade organisation in the US. On this episode you can hear how a 100-year-old organisation got into digital transformation and its significant progress to date.

Takeaways

• NAR venture fund Second Century Ventures was an early investor in DocuSign
• SCV and its accelerator arm Reach are fully funded from returns on past investments
• Cream will rise to top as economic downturn bites over next 18-24 months
• Priority areas to watch
• Tyler wants SDCV to help tackles affordability, how can tech solve the global housing crisis and help renters move towards owning property
• Property companies can take advantage of AI, using data and today’s sizable computer power to produce clear data points that are critical to success
• Dan says NAR wants to lead and not be reactive when it comes t spottinbg tech efficiencies in real estate
• Natasha’s companies to watch include Fyma – ‘unlocking data from video feeds’ – and Mökki – ‘logistics hubs for the circular economy’

Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has outlined her plan to get thousands of homes built. But will it work? Place North's David Thame digs into the matter.

Plus: Leeds' office market has reason for optimism - and so does the wider shed scene.

Is it government? The city region mayors? Transport for the North? Place North analysis editor David Thame digs into why regional transport policy is plagued by inertia. Plus: Have any of the government's regeneration programmes been effective?

Subscribe for FREE to receive The Subplot direct to your inbox: www.placenorth.co.uk

Richard Lewis, technical and quality director at M&E consultancy Davies Partnership - alongside Paul Gerrard, director of developer For Living, and Victoria Alderton, director of architect Paddock Johnson - joined Place North West reporter Dan Whelan to discuss how the industry is handling the sustainability challenge.

Place North West editor, Julia Hatmaker, is joined by Onward Homes' Sandy Livingstone and Turner & Townsend's David Kemp for a candid look at the state of social housing in the UK and how the sector is doing in the race to a world free of carbon emissions.

Get all the latest news from the North's built environment at placenorth.co.uk

This week on Scheming, Manchester City Council’s head of regeneration for the Eastern Gateway Shelagh McNerney chats with Place North West about becoming obsessed with car parks, “completing Ancoats”, and why a public sector grounding is vital for young property professionals.

Speaking with Place North West deputy editor Dan Whelan, McNerney reflected on a 40-year career that has seen her flit between the public and private sectors to deliver impactful regeneration and discussed how the delivery of regeneration projects has changed over the years.

Subscribe to Place North West for free: placenorthwest.co.uk/subscribe

Why does it seem so difficult to build infrastructure in the North? Place North analysis editor David Thame gets to the heart of the matter. Plus: a noisy legal affair and planning tweaks.

Read and subscribe for FREE at placenorth.co.uk

Town Halls face a difficult 2024, one the property industry cannot ignore. Place North analysis editor David Thame digs into how the situation got so bad and what this means for the future. Plus: student beds and Leeds hotels are on the up.

Receive The Subplot directly to your inbox, subscribe for FREE here: https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/subscribe/

Place North analysis editor David Thame explains why the Competition and Markets Authority getting tough with housebuilders won't change England's residential problem. Plus:  a look at agency profits and debt. Get The Subplot each week for free direct to your inbox when you subscribe to Place North: placenorth.co.uk

In an interview with Place North West, Andy Rainford and Colin Savage explain why their strategy as they take the reins from former majority shareholder and most recent MD Andy Critchlow will never be about “ripping up the rulebook”. Rather, it is about “evolution, not revolution” in the words of Rainford, who defines his priorities as building on the strengths of the business and deepening its offering.

Before dusting off his golf clubs, the outgoing chief executive of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority sat down with Place deputy editor Dan Whelan to reflect on the seismic role he has played in the growth of the city region.

For all things construction and the built environment, visit placenorth.co.uk

Are multi-billion-pound local authority asset sales moving closer? Place North analysis editor David Thame examines whether selling - or holding out - is the better move for councils. Plus: the next chapter in the Teesworks' drama and the latest on beds and sheds.

Read and subscribe to The Subplot for FREE at placenorth.co.uk

The UK’s electrical grid infrastructure is in dire need of an dire upgrade if the country is going to meet its renewable energy goals by 2035, says Pegasus Group in the latest Place North West podcast episode.

Building more wind and solar farms can only go so far when it comes to transforming the nation’s energy system. Without the proper infrastructure in place, we cannot truly maximise the potential of clean energy. So how bad is the issue?

We recruited experts from Pegasus Group, senior director Simon Tarr and senior acquisition surveyor Ben Thompson, to find out.

Visit pegasusgroup.co.uk

Place North analysis editor David Thame breaks down whether or not there's any merit in rumours that Labour may resurrect the old HS2 plan. Plus: is Hull set to be the next Hollywood of the North?

Written edition of The Subplot is available on Place North West, Place Yorkshire, and Place North East.

The chair of Women in Property North West said addressing the problem of inequality together and searching for solutions rather than apportioning blame is the key to unlocking the innovation that true diversity can deliver.

When she became chair of Women in Property North West, Conway, who is also residential director at Glenbrook, completed her conversion from sceptic to believer having spent the early part of her career distancing herself from the group. She spoke to Place North West about that journey and her plans for the group going forward.

What are the dos and don'ts of crafting the perfect business development strategy? The latest Place North podcast digs into all things marketing within the built environment, with the help of Civic Engineers' Katrina Davis and our own Dino Moutsopoulos.

Hosted by Julia Hatmaker, editor of Place North West.

Do heritage properties help or hinder efforts to revitalise a community? In the latest Place North West podcast, we zoom in on Rochdale to see how history is shaping the future.

Rochdale Development Agency heritage director Emma Birkett and Donald Insall Associates director Simon Malam share how they’re tackling the challenges of heritage-led regeneration and the rewards such projects bring.

Visit investinrochdale.co.uk to find out more.

Welcome to May, a month where the Northern property market is focussed on revenue as the half-year approaches. Place North analysis editor David Thame looks into why revenue is dominating investor mindsets. Plus: mayoral elections and Liverpool entertainment.

Read and subscribe to the newsletter for FREE: placenorth.co.uk

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What will happen if planning can no longer be blamed for the lack of viability in housing schemes? Plus: Greater Manchester’s game of Cluedo and office-to-resi pivots.

In this episode, we explore the ways in which public authorities are working towards Greater Manchester’s net-zero carbon target of 2038 and hear about the drivers and the challenges involved.

To discuss this our host Paul Unger was joined by Sarah Holland, programme and policy lead for energy at Greater Manchester Combined Authority; Dmitri Korolenko, lead sustainability & physics engineer at SI Sealy; and by Matt Pickford, technical director at SI Sealy.

To find out more, visit sisealy.co.uk

Scheming is a new podcast series from Place North West featuring some of the biggest names in property.

Episodes will be released weekly, with the first landing on Wednesday 16 October 2024.

Subscribe to Place North West for FREE so you don't miss a single episode.

Experts discuss how the pandemic has impacted landlords and occupiers of commercial property and what this means for the future of leases, in this Place North West podcast sponsored by law firm Kuits Solicitors.

David Moroney, commercial property partner at Kuits, is joined by Andrew Cooke, director of Manchester at Bruntwood Works, the developer’s offices arm, which creates and manages more than 5m sq ft of workspace across the UK.

Questions asked in this episode:

• Have tenants generally failed to pay rent during the pandemic, and, if so, what legal issues has this raised? What is the legal position for each party?

• To what extent are landlords and funders demonstrating flexibility with regard lease and other property agreements?

• How will the current environment impact landlord and tenant relations going forward, and what can we expect in terms of new leases? Will companies seek shorter, more flexible terms?

• How are commercial landlords working to achieve a safe reopening of office and retail property for their occupiers?

• Will there be any issues that need resolving during this transition period, such as increased service charges as offices are managed more carefully?

The strength of brand Manchester, a proactive local authority, and a culture that encourages open and honest discussions among partners are among the keys to Salford’s growth over the last decade.

Salboy managing director Simon Ismail and Euan Kellie, company director at Euan Kellie Property Solutions sat down with Place North West deputy editor Dan Whelan to reflect on the last 109 years of Salford’s regeneration story and look ahead at what comes next.

Subscribe to Place North West for FREE: https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/subscribe

In its push to achieve housing targets, the government is exploring the option of lowering the cost of CPOs – but will this well-trodden path be effective? Plus: the differing fortunes of speculative offices and data centres.

Subscribe to The Subplot for free at placenorth.co.uk

When it comes to minimising carbon footprints, companies should keep things simple and take steps to measure, monitor, and manage energy consumption before considering investing heavily in largely untested technologies, according to energy provider Unify.

Sarah Bateman, chief executive of Unify Energy, explains why spending money on solar panels, so-called green energy and EV charging points might not be the wisest thing for businesses looking to reduce their environmental impact to do right now.

To find out more, email: hello@unifyenergy.co.uk

Healthcare developer Assura delves into the challenges it faces in creating sustainable medical facilities, and how it's overcoming them, in this episode of our COP26 podcast series.

By their nature, healthcare properties are energy-hungry with their need to support specialist equipment at all times. So how can we construct new facilities in a way that helps the UK meet its net zero carbon goals?

We recruited Assura chief executive officer Jonathan Murphy and senior development manager Ashley Seymour to share what they’re doing to craft sustainable buildings.

To find out more, visit assuraplc.com

This week on Scheming, Urban Splash director Nathan Cornish chats with Place North West about staying relevant, why he is worried about the next generation of property developers, and missing out on winning the £2.5bn Salford Crescent masterplan.

Speaking with Place North West deputy editor Dan Whelan, Cornish reflected on his 22 years at Urban Splash and discussed some of the highlights, including taking an area of Salford earmarked for the wrecking ball and transforming it into a trendy neighbourhood as well as his dream scheme: making Manchester the greenest city in the world.

Subscribe to Place North West for FREE: placenorthwest.co.uk/subscribe

Alan Robson and Max Meadows of Project Four Construction Safety joined Julia Hatmaker, deputy editor at Place North West, to discuss, in depth, the latest on the building safety bill.

To find out more about project four, visit: projectfoursafety.com

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An early doors plan for 530,000 sq ft of offices in Preston hints at a wider change in attitudes around investing in regional workspace. Place North analysis editor David Thame digs into the matter. Plus: skyscraper dreams in Liverpool and speedy progress on York Central.

Subscribe to The Subplot for FREE: placenorth.co.uk

Jaime Stanton of Morgan Sindall Construction and George Hudson of Gleeds discuss how to bring more young people into the industry and once they are there, how to develop them into the leaders of tomorrow.

Watch the podcast on our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIK5C5Vq_nM Subscribe to our newsletter for free at placenorthwest.co.uk/subscribe

Experts Charlie Tomlinson, head of construction, Kuits Solicitors and Mark Bond, director, Walker Sime Ltd discuss the legal viewpoint on how the pandemic has impacted construction contracts, and how to avoid disputes.

Gecina is a French real estate company which owns and operates €20bn of real estate assets, 97% of which are located in the Paris region.

Takeaways

• ‘When we are at the beginning of the journey the most difficult part is spreading the innovation mindset, framework, and skills across the organisation’
• ‘The challenge is to deploy innovation at scale through our portfolio in operation where it makes sense’
• ‘Data management is the next big revolution for real estate. If you look at other industries and benchmarks you can easily realise that real estate is quite behind on this transformation’
• ‘The problem is not about technology, which is already available. The difficulty is the upskilling we have to do to be able to produce value with data’

Subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter: placetech.net/subscribe

Colin Shenton, chief executive of the Shenton Group, and Andrew Purdon, head of co-living transactions at CBRE, joined reporter Dan Whelan to thrash out the issues currently preventing the co-living sector really taking off and discuss what can be done to break through the barriers.

In this episode, Copper Consultancy director Annabel John and strategic director Tom Morrison break down the intricacies of effective public consultation. They share key mistakes to avoid and outline best practices.

The episode even looks at a consultation in practice – examining Copper Consultancy’s work with HyNet and how the company has turned a complex topic into something the public can easily engage with.

To find out more about Copper Consultancy visit: copperconsultancy.com

Hear invaluable insight from directors Michael Tsourounis and Roger Poirier of Toronto-headquartered Hazelview Investments, exploring their dual approach to backing the right tech solutions and embedding them across the group’s portfolio.

Find out more, at placetech.net

Shazia Bashir, housing & regeneration partner at TLT, joins Paul Unger to discuss green finance. 

Green finance is on the rise and never more so than in the UK's affordable housing sector. In this podcast, Shazia and Paul look at the trends driving the market, the avenues available to access green finance, and the challenges faced by registered providers in meeting the UK's net zero carbon emissions target.

Visit TLT to find out more. 

Environmental consultancy LUC shares its expertise on how smart landscape design and ecology-minded planning can help the UK reach its net zero goal in this episode of Place North West’s COP26 podcast series.

Green infrastructure is the phrase of the moment and one of the key ways that developers and local authorities can make schemes environmentally friendly. Together with LUC’s senior planner Lucy Wallwork and landscape architect Alex Burton, we look at how green infrastructure can be used from a site level to a regional one.

This week on Scheming, arguably Manchester’s most influential architect chats with Place North West about his love of glass, working with Renaker to transform the city’s skyline, and his ambitious vision for the city’s inner ring road.

This is the last episode of the first series of Scheming. Scheming will return in 2025. If you enjoyed this series, and want to be the first to receive the next series, then subscribe to Place North at placenorth.co.uk.

Felicity Tulloch, head of licensing at award-winning law firm, Kuits, and Chris Middleton, commercial manager at Bruntwood, join Place North West editor, Sarah Townsend, to discuss all things licences in principle. 

Despite the weather, the region has become a target for solar energy generation. Place North analysis editor David Thame looks at the North's bright power future. Plus: good news for supermarkets and Doncaster Sheffield Airport. Subscribe for FREE: placenorth.co.uk

Place North's David Thame digs into why university financial woes are problematic for the property business. Plus: a look at politics and planning - and some good news for the retail sector. Receive The Subplot directly into your inbox every week for FREE. Subscribe at placenorth.co.uk

This week on Scheming, Sheila Bird Studio founder Atul Bansal chats with Place North West about breathing new life into a forgotten Manchester gem and planning New York treehouses with Steven Bartlett.

Speaking with Place North West deputy editor Dan Whelan, Shelia Bird’s Bansal discussed getting inside the head of his clients and why the pandemic was “brilliant” for his business.

This episode is sponsored by VM Finance. Find out more: vmfinanceltd.com

Ahead of her departure to take the top civil servant post at Birmingham City Council, Joanne Roney sat down with Place North's Julia Hatmaker and Dino Moutsopoulos to reflect on the past seven years leading the Northern city. For all the latest on the built environment across the North and North West, visit placenorth.co.uk

HMS’ managing director Paul Worthington, construction director John Barrow, commercial director Ian McGillivary, and maintenance director Alison Brown joined deputy editor Julia Hatmaker to hammer out the root causes of the skills shortage and, what is more, discuss what can be done to solve it.

Ever thought about growing leafy greens in your basement? On this episode of the Place North West podcast, Chris Bowie-Hill of Hydrock and Chris Lloyd of Glenbrook discuss new and interesting ways to generate income from retail assets.

From dark kitchens and last mile logistics to battery storage and EV charging, there are countless ways in which surplus space in a single building or entire shopping park can be used to increase a property’s money-making potential.

As retail declines and the high street continues to change, landlords are looking at how they can maximise their assets in a way that responds to societal and environmental shifts.

Don’t miss a single Place podcast episode. Subscribe to our series on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Anchor, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Stay up to date on the latest in the property industry by subscribing to our free newsletter, delivered to your inbox just in time for lunch every weekday.

New data from the Office for National Statistics shows the power twentysomethings have on Northern cities. Place North analysis editor David Thame digs into what this means for offices and homes. Plus: a snapshot of the industrial market.

Subscribe for free at placenorth.co.uk

The rise of life sciences and biotech has put a premium on laboratory space. In this episode, Fairhursts Design Group managing director Mark Adey and director Laura Sherliker walk us through the ins and outs of crafting commercial science spaces, breaking down key things you’ll need to know as well as sharing lessons learned from past projects – including the award-winning GlaxoSmithKline Centre for Sustainable Chemistry in Nottingham.

Find out more about Fairhursts Design Group: fairhursts.com

Sir Richard Leese reflects on key moments from the past 25 years in this one-on-one interview with Place North West's deputy editor, Julia Hatmaker.

A comms masterclass this week with three directors of Social, a leading ESG and tech PR agency – join Sara Donnelly, Andy Cameron-Smith and Luke Cross sharing their wisdom with PlaceTech editor Paul Unger.

Questions answered

• Why does ESG matter in corporate communications?
• How can tech enable businesses to meet green targets?
• How can companies cut through the noise and be heard on climate messages?
• What role does technology play in the decarbonisation of the property sector?
• Given the growth of the Greentech sector, how can communications enable tech companies to compete?
• How to approach ESG reporting and narrative development

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Sharry's country manager for the US and Canada, Kevin Wilhelm and LinkedIn's senior director & head of global design and build, Victor Sanchez, join Paul Unger, editor of PlaceTech, to discuss... What do we mean by workplace experience?

Kevin, Victor and Paul delve into the trends, what clients want and how software can support the workplace experience.

For more information, visit: sharry.tech

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The warehouse sector is more appealing than ever to those with seriously deep pockets. Place North analysis editor David Thame looks at investor appetites. Plus: Planning fast lanes and Leeds' bright future.

Get The Subplot sent directly to your inbox every week for free when you subscribe to Place North.

In this episode of the PlaceTech Podcast, Tom Willcock, director of innovation at Hollis, joins PlaceTech editor Paul Unger for a quick-fire walkthrough of some of the biggest trends in real estate innovation.

Find out more about Hollis here.

Subscribe to PlaceTech's weekly newsletter here.

There are concerns within the social housing sector about how they will afford technologies such as air source heat pumps and if tenants will accept them.

And while housing associations go about putting plans together for retrofitting programmes that could cost hundreds of millions of pounds, private homeowners need to be encouraged to do more to make their homes fit for the future.

In this episode, Laura Dunlop, founder of GLD Technical Consulting, and Sandy Livingstone, executive director of property at Onward Homes, discuss what solutions are available to housing associations and private homeowners alike, and the financial implications of such interventions.

Visit gldtechnicalconsulting.co.uk to find out more

Bruntwood Works is aiming to create the first carbon neutral commercial building in the country. In this latest episode of Place North West’s Cop26 podcast series, we ask how it can be done and, more importantly, if it can be replicated at scale.

The UK Green Building Council is pushing for all buildings to be net-zero by 2050. If the development community is going to achieve that, a blueprint on how to create truly sustainable new-build offices needs to be worked up.

As one of the country’s largest landlord/developers, Bruntwood is hoping to play a key role in creating that blueprint, and sharing its knowledge.

In this episode, Aisling McNulty, development director at Bruntwood Works, and Sophie West, policy and strategic project manager at Bruntwood, discuss assembling the right project team, selecting the correct materials, and what it is like to play a leading role in the pursuit of net-zero.

Visit bruntwood.co.uk/works to find out more

What the sector wants and needs from its industry events was the topic of this frank and honest roundtable discussion about the quality and value of what is currently on offer.

From socials, to conferences, to roundtables, there has never been more events for the property industry to attend, but are they all hitting the mark?

This podcast brought together experts from the worlds of marketing, communications, publishing, and PR to have their say on what makes a good industry event and what factors they and their clients consider when choosing one over another.

Participants:

Dino Moutsopoulos, managing partner and head of commercial, Place North

Lucy Lomas, director, Luma Marketing

Kirsty Jolley, head of marketing, Placefirst

Kate Healey, director, Inform Communications

After a tough year for construction firms, Stuart Stead, head of construction and property at accountancy firm Cowgills, and Ben Fearns, managing director of developer Novo Property Group, discuss the biggest issues facing the industry and what can be done to improve the outlook for medium-sized contractors in an increasingly competitive market.

Much like 2019, this year has seen a number of high-profile firms forced to call in administrators as cashflow problems, exacerbated by the Covid-19 lockdown, made it impossible to continue trading.

Guests on this Place North West podcast, hosted by Dan Whelan and sponsored by Hargreaves Contracting, discuss how the industry needs to change in order to prevent more firms going the same way as the likes of Cruden Construction, Harry Fairclough and others.

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed by the guests on this podcast are not necessarily shared by the episode sponsor

In this PlaceTech podcast, Tanguy Quero, investment principal at JLL, and Kingma Ma, head of UK at venture capital firm Proptech1, join Paul Unger to delve into the relationships between venture capital firms and their property investment partners.

Find out more about PlaceTech: placetech.net

As we push for sustainable development, more and more attention is being paid to building materials. Stephanie Palmer, head of sustainability at Wienerberger UK joins Place North West to talk about brick's green credentials as well as what the company is doing to mitigate its carbon footprint.

To find out more, visit wienerberger.co.uk

Replacing Section 106 contributions with a single community infrastructure levy could severely impact the delivery of discounted homes, according to Rob Loughenbury, director of strategy at Onward Homes.

Hosted by Place North West senior reporter Dan Whelan, this podcast delves into the implications of scrapping S106, and the continued politicisation of the planning system, and offers up solutions that might better support the affordable housing sector.

Find out more about Onward Homes: onward.co.uk

Subscribe to Place North West for FREE: placenorthwest.co.uk/subscribe

City councils are crafting plans around how much office space they'll need 15 years down the line - but does their math stack up? Plus, Place North analysis editor David Thame gives the BTR market a health check while also reporting some good news for Newcastle. Read and subscribe for FREE at placenorth.co.uk

Electric vehicles are on the rise as the UK pushes for net zero, which means more and more EV charging stations are needed. But before you add an EV charging unit to your scheme you need to answer two very important questions:

• How will it be powered?
• Where will it go?

Pegasus executive director and environmental planner Andrew Cook delves into each question to propose solutions that will help your scheme maximise its sustainability credentials.

To find out more, visit pegasusgroup.co.uk

Welcome to the Place North West COP26 podcast series, featuring some of the biggest names in property and exploring all things net zero carbon and sustainability within the built environment.

In this opening episode, Andrew Knapp and David Cadwallader, directors at MEES Solutions, join Place North West's deputy editor Julia Hatmaker to discuss, in detail, the five easy ways to improve your EPC rating, and why good things may come to those who wait when it comes to EPC rating.

To find out more, visit MEES Solutions. 

As the impacts of climate change worsen, it’s more important than ever that we try and build in a sustainable fashion. Civic Engineers directors Paul Morris and James Bruce share how engineers can help projects boost biodiversity and reduce carbon footprints.

Civic Engineers is a civil, structural and transport engineering practice focused on having a positive impact on the environment and enabling people to lead happier and healthier lives. Its 135-strong team delivers projects that help to create and transform buildings, neighbourhoods, and cities, bringing significant economic, social, and environmental benefits to those places for all that live, work, and visit there.

To find out more, visit civicengineers.com

As part of the COP26 podcast series, we've talked about retrofitting quite a lot - from a general overview of the issue to best practices. But what's it like on the ground level? ForHousing has embarked on an assertive course of action to retrofit its properties, with all its properties set to be EPC band C by 2030. It's also working with the University of Southampton to research the best ways to retrofit going forward. With that in mind, we recruited ForHousing group chief executive Colette McKune to share the lessons learned from putting retrofitting best practices into action.

To find out more, visit forhousing.co.uk

Whisper it, but against a backdrop of economic doom and gloom, could the slow pace of the Northern property market’s lower prices be its secret power? Plus: Socially minded pension funds and dead cats. It's all in this month's Subplot.

Subscribe for free: placenorth.co.uk

The Government’s proposed changes to the much-maligned planning system aim to slash the red tape, speed up housing delivery and prioritise creating beautiful places for people to live, but whether the reforms are as radical as Whitehall claims remains to be seen.

Place North West reporter, Dan Whelan, is joined by Simon Halliwell, director of wirral-based architecture firm Paddock Johnson, and Steve Grimster, director of Cheshire-based planning consultancy Grimster Planning, to discuss the new reforms.

Discussing the intricate plans behind Wigan's new bold developments are Hayley Fielden, service manager – commercial development at Wigan Council, Ciara Sweeney, director at Freeths, and Ian Tempest, partner at Freeths.

Chaired by Place North West deputy editor, Dan Whelan.

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Phil Mayall, board director at regeneration specialists Muse Developments and Mark Robinson, chair of the High Streets Taskforce, join Place North West reporter Dan Whelan to discuss the pitfalls of the one-size fits-all approach to regeneration, how to unearth a town’s purpose and identity, and what the future holds for this increasingly scrutinised sector.

Genesis Homes chief executive Nicky Gordon sat down with Place North West to discuss what being a housebuilder in Cumbria is really like, the potential implications of the recent local government reorganisation, and why Barrow is a place to watch.

MTX Contracts is a construction and engineering firm based in Wilmslow which provides modular building solutions for the NHS and private healthcare clients.

Managing director David Hartley talked to Place North West reporter Dan Whelan about how the business has evolved from providing cold storage units for the frozen food sector, the changing face of healthcare in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and why modern methods of construction are becoming increasingly popular.

Questions asked in this episode:

• What exactly are modern methods of construction?
• What are the benefits of off-site construction?
• What does the future of modular construction look like post Covid-19?
• Why should healthcare clients consider using the services of a company like MTX over traditional building firm?

Main takeaways:

• Modern methods of construction provide a fast-track, greener, alternative to traditional construction
• The idea that modular buildings are somehow less structurally sound than traditionally constructed buildings is a myth
• By constructing wards and operating theatres off-site, disruption to the day-to-day running of hospitals is minimised
• Modular units can be easily adapted to suit the evolving nature of hospital treatment
• 85% of MTX’s revenues come from the NHS

Paul Unger is joined by Jeremy Hinds, planning director at Savills, and Tom Cheesewright to explore the reasons holding back real estate from taking the radical steps needed to challenge climate change.

Takeaways

• There is a lack of a consensus framework in which to discuss the problems and how to address them
• Without sufficient policy responses individuals will increasingly put forward radical ideas which prompt counter responses and only delay the forming of a consensus
• Requirements to do something about climate change are very challenging – this puts people off
• As timeframes to act become shorter, the responses needed become more radical
• Short-term outlooks of voter-obsessed politicians obstruct the consensus and avoid difficult solutions
• Climate policy should be outsourced and made independent and objective in same way as countries’ central banks often are