1.5m New Homes

Greenwich: Staying the Course at One Woolwich

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Long-term regeneration is rarely blessed by ideal conditions — it takes staying power. In this episode of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, Toby Fox visits Trinity Park and Trinity Rise, being delivered at Morris Walk North and Morris Walk South as part of the One Woolwich estate regeneration programme in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. He speaks with Becca Harrall, Senior Development Manager at Lovell Partnerships, about delivering a 1,600-home regeneration programme over more than 15 years, across multiple phases, market cycles and policy changes. The conversation explores:

Long-term council–developer partnership working
Delivering quality architecture and a sense of place
Social value that lasts beyond the build
Apprenticeships and local employment pathways
Managing viability, sales risk and affordability
Why flexibility and pragmatism keep schemes moving

This episode shows how continuity, trust and partnership make estate regeneration possible even as conditions change. Sponsored by Red Loft and Lovell Partnerships.

Greenwich: Learning the Hard Way with MMC

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Trying new ways to build homes comes with real risk — but doing nothing comes with a bigger one. In this episode of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, Toby Fox meets Peter Fernandes, Senior Project Manager at the Royal Borough of Greenwich, on site at Orangery Lane — a modular housing scheme delivered through the Greenwich Builds programme. Peter speaks candidly about:

Starting an MMC scheme just before Covid
Modular contractors going into administration
Supply-chain failure and programme delays
Schemes costing more — and taking longer — than planned
Why councils can’t put all their eggs in one basket
Mixing MMC, traditional build, SIPs, acquisitions and partnerships
The need for more leeway when councils are innovating

The episode ends with a powerful reminder of why this matters: the families on the waiting list, and the human cost of not delivering. Delivering 1.5 million new homes will require councils to try, learn and adapt — and to be supported while they do so. Sponsored by Red Loft and Lovell Partnerships.

Greenwich: Leadership, Partnership and the Long Game

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Unlocking major regeneration sites is a long-term endeavour — and it starts with leadership. In this panel episode of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, Toby Fox is joined on site at Charlton Riverside by Dermot Whelan (at the time working for Royal Borough of Greenwich), Chloe Phelps (Director, BPTW) and Neill Campbell (Partner, BPTW) to discuss what it really takes to bring forward one of London’s largest regeneration opportunities. The conversation covers:

A 300-acre Opportunity Area with capacity for 6,000–10,000 homes
Fragmented land ownership and long delivery horizons
The cost and complexity of infrastructure
Why councils must take an active leadership role
The importance of quality, longevity and place
Skills shortages across the built environment sector
The role of architects, apprenticeships and early engagement

In Greenwich, it’s time to tackle more complex regeneration sites. This episode shows why unlocking them depends on leadership, partnership and long-term commitment — and why that matters if 1.5 million new homes are to be delivered. Sponsored by Red Loft, Lovell Partnerships and BPTW.

Greenwich: Unlocking Charlton Riverside

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000

In Greenwich, the easy sites are largely gone. In this episode of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, Toby Fox speaks to Emma Sweeney, Head of Regeneration at the Royal Borough of Greenwich, about what it will take to unlock Charlton Riverside — a major regeneration area with the potential to deliver around 8,000 new homes. The conversation explores:

Why industrial land values can exceed residential values
Flood defences and transport connectivity as binding constraints
Why private-sector delivery alone has struggled
The role of land assembly and long-term planning
Why early placemaking and meanwhile uses matter
Why unlocking the site requires close to £1bn of public investment

We focus on Charlton Riverside for a reason. In Greenwich, delivering the next homes depends on unlocking complex, infrastructure-led sites like this. This is what sits behind the ambition of 1.5 million new homes — not slogans, but sustained public leadership and funding. Sponsored by Red Loft and Lovell Partnerships.

Placemaking, Infrastructure and Building Places People Want to Live

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Housing delivery doesn’t start with numbers. It starts with place. In this episode of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, Toby Fox speaks to Alan Evans, Interim Director of Place and Growth at the Royal Borough of Greenwich, about why placemaking, infrastructure and long-term thinking are essential to delivering homes at scale. The conversation covers:

Royal Arsenal as a long-term placemaking case study
Why infrastructure must lead housing, not follow it
The catalytic impact of the Elizabeth line
Creating value beyond development appraisals
What makes people want to live somewhere
How lessons from established places shape plans for Charlton Riverside and Thamesmead
This episode focuses on place for a reason.

👉 New houses don’t provide new homes unless places work — we need to be building the 1.5 million new homes England needs. Sponsored by Red Loft and Lovell Partnerships.

Greenwich: Delivery, Partnership and Tough Decisions

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Housing delivery doesn’t happen in ideal conditions. In this episode of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, Toby Fox speaks to Cllr Majid Rahman, Cabinet Member for Planning, Estate Renewal and Development at the Royal Borough of Greenwich, about what it really takes to keep homes being built in a difficult market. The conversation covers:

Estate regeneration delivering thousands of homes
Staying agile when the market slows
Buying homes directly from developers to maintain supply
Sharing risk in long-term partnerships
Why compromise — and toughness — are sometimes essential

We focus on these practical decisions for a reason. They are how councils respond to the housing need that makes 1.5 million new homes essential — not as a slogan, but as delivery under pressure. Sponsored by Red Loft and Lovell Partnerships.

Greenwich: Temporary Accommodation, Homelessness and the Cost of Inaction

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Temporary accommodation is one of the clearest — and most costly — symptoms of England’s housing crisis. In this episode of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, Toby Fox speaks to Cllr Pat Slattery, Cabinet Member for Housing, Neighbourhoods and Homelessness at the Royal Borough of Greenwich, about the scale and human cost of homelessness. The conversation covers:

29,000 households on Greenwich’s housing register
2,000 households in temporary accommodation

-Families spending years in placements meant to be short-term

Hotel use costing up to £29,000 per night at its peak
Why building council homes is central to reducing homelessness

This episode focuses on need and hardship for a reason. These pressures — on families, on councils, and on public services — are why the ambition of 1.5 million new homes matters. Not as a slogan, but as prevention. Sponsored by Red Loft and Lovell Partnerships.

Greenwich: Leadership, Infrastructure and Delivering Homes at Scale

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000

How do councils unlock housing delivery at scale — in the toughest conditions in a generation? In this episode of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, Toby Fox speaks to Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, about leadership, partnership and the role of infrastructure in delivering new homes. The conversation explores:

Why councils increasingly need muscular, confident leadership to unlock delivery
What it means for councils to build homes directly
How transport infrastructure can unlock new towns
The realities of viability, remediation and long-term funding
Why confidence and clarity matter as much as policy

From Charlton Riverside to the proposed Thamesmead New Town, this episode examines how Greenwich is positioning itself to deliver homes, jobs and opportunity — and what national government must do to support councils to go further. This series is sponsored by Red Loft and Lovell Partnerships.

Webinar - Skills, SMEs and Supply Chains: What Councils Can Do to Unlock Housing Delivery

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

We are pleased to share this month's webinar from 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, with Stevenage Borough Council "Skills, SMEs and Supply Chains: What Councils Can Do to Unlock Housing Delivery"

This webinar features:

Ash Ahmed - Director of Land, Development & Neighbourhood Regeneration at Stevenage Borough Council

Jeremy Graham - Chief Operating Officer at Bugler Developments

Daryl Jedowski - Co-operative Neighbourhoods Programme Manager at Stevenage Borough Council

Sam Phelps - Senior Development Consultant at Red Loft

Darryl Stewart - Head of Commercial Services at NHBC

Toby Fox (Chair) - Founder of 1.5M New Homes

We hope you enjoy and don't forget to follow along on our social media channels and stay up to date with all our latest content:

Instagram- / 1.5mnewhomes

LinkedIn- / 1-5m-new-homes

TikTok- / 1.5mnewhomes

Public Sector Housing Delivery: A Career Worth Choosing

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

What’s it really like to build a career in public-sector housing delivery? In this episode, Simon Nuttall reflects on starting out in local government, being trusted early, and developing a career that spans development, procurement, finance, negotiation and delivery. It’s a candid look at why public-sector housing can be a challenging, varied and deeply rewarding career — especially for people who want responsibility, learning and real-world impact. Part of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge.

Why Skills and Capacity are Now the Real Constraints on Housing Delivery

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we focus on the skills challenge facing housing delivery. Andy Bugler (Bugler Developments), Ash Ahmed (Stevenage Borough Council) and Samantha Phelps (Red Loft) discuss how skills shortages, training pathways, industry structure and council capacity are shaping what can realistically be delivered — and why this may be one of the biggest risks to meeting housing ambitions over the medium term. Part of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge.

What Today's New Towns Can Learn From the Post-War New Towns Programme

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Ash Ahmed reflects on Stevenage’s experience as part of the post-war New Towns programme — and what that experience can teach today’s new towns programme. The conversation explores: • Realistic timescales for new towns • Delivery models and leadership • Land control and sequencing • Lessons that still apply decades later Part of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge.

Why Supported Housing is Central to Fixing the Wider Housing System

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we visit a supported housing scheme in Stevenage with Ash Ahmed, Chief Land & Development Officer at Stevenage Borough Council. Ash explains why supported housing and older persons’ accommodation are central to the wider housing system — freeing up family homes, preventing homelessness and supporting local SMEs and specialist contractors who play a key role in delivering complex schemes. Part of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge.

Why Partnership Matters When Delivery Gets Complex

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

This episode explores the difference between transactional delivery and active partnership on a live housing scheme in Stevenage. Simon Nuttall (Stevenage Borough Council) and Jeremy Graham (Bugler Developments) discuss how councils and contractors work together when schemes encounter uncertainty, regulatory friction or design challenge — and why hands-on partnership can make the difference between progress and delay. Part of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge.

Estate Regeneration in Practice: How Councils Lead Well

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

In this episode of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, we visit The Oval estate in Stevenage with Simon Nuttall, Head of Land & Development at Stevenage Borough Council. Simon explains how the council is leading a phased programme of estate regeneration — managing risk, addressing viability challenges and coordinating delivery over time, supported by Homes England funding. The episode also offers practical insight for councils considering Homes England funding, including the importance of early engagement, realistic phasing and aligning funding programmes to delivery challenges on complex estate regeneration schemes.

Using Council Land to Unlock Housing Delivery

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we visit Kenilworth Close in Stevenage with Ash Ahmed, Chief Land & Development Officer at Stevenage Borough Council. Ash explains how the council has approached the site not as a passive land seller, but as an active, informed landowner — de-risking the site, re-procuring delivery, and reinvesting value back into affordable housing, sustainability and local services. Part of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge.

Designing for Later Life: Housing Older Residents Well

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we visit Brodie Court in Stevenage — an independent living scheme designed to improve quality of life for older residents while also supporting the wider housing system. Cllr Jackie Hollywell, Ash Ahmed and resident Beth Mead explain why housing for older people is critical to dignity, independence and wellbeing — and to releasing family homes so younger people can move on and up the housing ladder. Part of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge.

Joining the Dots: Leadership, Place and Delivery

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Tom Pike (Chief Executive) and Cllr Richard Henry (Leader) reflect on why Stevenage has taken a long-term, joined-up approach to renewal. They discuss how housing delivery, cultural investment and job creation are interlinked — and why councils need the skills, confidence and continuity to plan across these areas if regeneration is going to stick. Part of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge

Why Councils Can't Afford Not to Invest in Housing

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Tom Pike, Chief Executive of Stevenage Borough Council, reflects on why councils need to stay actively invested in housing delivery. He discusses long-term risk, viability, partnership and why withdrawing from delivery can store up bigger problems for the future. Part of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge.

Raising Aspirations for Stevenage and its Residents

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Cllr Richard Henry, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council, talks about raising aspirations for the town and its residents. He reflects on confidence, opportunity and why regeneration has to work for local people. Part of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge.

Webinar - What the Budget Means for Housing Delivery in Enfield and Beyond

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

We are pleased to share this month's webinar from 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, with London Borough of Enfield.

"What the Budget Means for Housing Delivery in Enfield and Beyond."

This webinar features:

Lorraine Casey- Regional Managing Director at Lovell Partnerships

Anna Clarke- Director of Policy and Public Affairs at The Housing Forum

Joanne Drew- Executive Director Housing & Regeneration at LB Enfield

Dan King- London Divisional Chair at Vistry Group

Danny Sutcliffe- Founding Partner at Red Loft

Toby Fox (Chair)- Founder of 1.5M New Homes

We discussed the Chancellor's Budget Announcement and the implications this will have on housing throughout Enfield and beyond.

We hope you enjoy and don't forget to follow along on our social media channels and stay up to date with all our latest content:

Instagram- / 1.5mnewhomes

LinkedIn- / 1-5m-new-homes

TikTok- / 1.5mnewhomes

Podcasts- https://1-5m-new-homes.captivate.fm/l..

Bluesky- https://bsky.app/profile/1-5mnewhomes...

Apprentice to Placemaker - How Local Government Grows Its Own Talent

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Lucy Benjamin joined Enfield Council as a 17-year-old apprentice.

Now she’s a Development Manager responsible for major housing projects — including 1,000 homes at the Alma Estate.

She talks about mentoring, organisation and the power of apprenticeships to create careers that deliver for communities.

Her story shows how local government is growing its own talent — and why investing in people is vital to building better places.

🎥 Part of 1.5 Million New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, sponsored by Red Loft and Lovell.

#Enfield #PublicSectorCareers #HousingDelivery #Skills #LocalGovernment #1point5MNewHomes

Small Builders, Big Difference - How Enfield is Rethinking Delivery

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Aneesh Maini, Head of Development at Enfield Council, shares how the borough is rethinking housing delivery — opening its pipeline to smaller builders, streamlining procurement, and focusing on design quality that lasts.

He explains how local partnerships, practical innovation and attention to detail are helping Enfield speed up delivery while building better homes and stronger neighbourhoods.

🎥 Part of 1.5 Million New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, produced in partnership with Red Loft and Lovell.

Joyce & Snells - Regeneration with People at its Heart

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Estate regeneration is never quick — but done well, it changes lives.

Sarah Lovell, Regeneration Programme Director at Enfield Council, shares how the Joyce & Snells Estate is delivering 2,200 new homes and 5,000 jobs through co-design, early community investment and smart funding strategy.

She explains why place-making is about people as much as plans — and how councils can keep ambitious projects moving by keeping people at their heart.

🎥 Part of 1.5 Million New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, sponsored by Red Loft and Lovell.

#Enfield #Regeneration #HousingDelivery #Community #LocalGovernment #1point5MNewHomes

Building Meridian Water - London's Largest Council-Led Neighbourhood

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Meridian Water is London’s largest council-led regeneration project – 10,000 homes, 5,000 jobs, and £190 million of infrastructure already funded.

Jenny Offord, Head of Meridian Water at Enfield Council, explains how a local authority took on a scheme that the market wouldn’t – and is turning it into a long-term neighbourhood with real social value.

She shares lessons on leadership, partnership and the balance between homes, jobs and infrastructure that makes places succeed.

🎥 Part of 1.5 Million New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, sponsored by Red Loft and Lovell.

The Pragmatic Council - Unblocking Housing Delivery in Enfield

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

What does pragmatic leadership look like in practice?

When a 1,500-home scheme in Edmonton Green stalled because of buried infrastructure, Enfield Council didn’t step back — it stepped up.

Joanne Drew, Executive Director of Housing and Regeneration, explains how her team used creative funding and a pro-growth planning culture to unblock delivery — and what other councils can learn from their approach.

🎥 Part of 1.5 Million New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, sponsored by Red Loft and Lovell.

The Human Side of Regeneration - London Borough of Enfield

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

What does regeneration really mean for the people who live through it?

Cllr Ayten Guzel, Cabinet Member for Housing at Enfield Council, shares the human story behind the Alma Estate — how partnership, trust and good design have turned three ageing tower blocks into safe, modern homes that residents helped shape.

She reflects on the real lessons for future projects — the importance of community engagement, the balance between ambition and affordability, and how local authorities can deliver change that lasts.

🎥 Part of 1.5 Million New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, sponsored by Red Loft and Lovell.

New Towns Reimagined: Can Enfield Lead the Next Generation?

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

What can the next generation of New Towns learn from the last?

Enfield has been recommended by the Government’s New Towns Taskforce for a development of up to 20,000 homes at Crews Hill — the largest and greenest new settlement ever proposed in London.

Cllr Ergin Erbil (Leader of Enfield Council), Anthony Boden (Lovell) and Tom Conlon (Red Loft) discuss how to build a modern new town that works — with affordable family homes, green space and local jobs at its core.

🎥 Part of 1.5 Million New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, sponsored by Red Loft and Lovell.

Leadership Starts Locally - London Borough of Enfield

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Cllr Ergin Erbil, Leader of Enfield Council, shares his vision for a borough that’s growing fast — and the leadership it takes to turn that growth into better homes and stronger communities.

From Meridian Water’s 10,000-home programme to investment in local streets and schools, he explains how Enfield is proving that local government can be both ambitious and accountable.

🎥 Part of 1.5 Million New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, produced in partnership with Red Loft and Lovell.

Webinar - Viability vs Deliverability with London Borough of Sutton

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

We are pleased to share this month's webinar from 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, with London Borough of Sutton.

"Viability vs Deliverability: Will Possible Affordability Changes Really Get More Homes Built in London?"

This webinar features:

Meera Bedi- Housing Programme Consultant at The Future of London

Tracy Bradwell- Land & Viability Director at Red Loft

Anna Clarke- Director of Policy and Public Affairs at The Housing Forum

Adam Tucker- Head of Regeneration, Enabling and Development at LB Sutton

Julie Lorraine- Experienced Chief Financial Officer and Former Deputy CEO at LB Tower Hamlets

Toby Fox (Chair)- Founder of 1.5M New Homes

We discussed themes captured in this month's series with Sutton, including:

The impact of affordability changes
Practical solutions and policy recommendations

-How deliverability depends on more than viability

We hope you enjoy and don't forget to follow along on our social media channels and stay up to date with all our content:

Instagram- / 1.5mnewhomes

LinkedIn- / 1-5m-new-homes

TikTok- / 1.5mnewhomes

Podcasts- https://1-5m-new-homes.captivate.fm/l..

Bluesky- https://bsky.app/profile/1-5mnewhomes...

Why Sutton Needs More New Homes - London Borough of Sutton

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

How do local people really feel about new homes?

In this episode, Millie Dodd from Shared Voice speaks with residents in Sutton about housing, affordability, and why more homes matter for future generations.

From changing high streets to the cost of ownership, they share honest reflections on what’s at stake — and why balanced, sustainable development is vital for the next generation.

🎥 Part of 1.5 Million New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, sponsored by Red Loft and Lovell.

#Sutton #HousingDelivery #PublicOpinion #AffordableHomes #CommunityVoices #LocalGovernment #1Point5MillionNewHomes #SharedVoice

Making Local Plans Work - London Borough of Sutton

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

How do you balance growth, community, and place?

Cllr Jake Short, Chair of Housing, Economy & Business at the London Borough of Sutton, explains how the borough’s Local Plan keeps new development under control — meeting housing targets while protecting Sutton’s green, suburban character.

Jake shares how clear communication, collaboration and realistic engagement with residents help councils deliver homes and maintain trust.

🎥 Part of 1.5 Million New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, sponsored by Red Loft and Lovell.

#Sutton #LocalPlan #HousingDelivery #LocalGovernment #Planning #CommunityEngagement #1Point5MillionNewHomes #CouncilHousing

Why Work in Public Sector Housing Delivery? - London Borough of Sutton

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

What makes working in public-sector housing special?

Shivam Tandale, an LSE urban-planning graduate, asks Adam Tucker, Sutton’s Head of Housing Regeneration, why he should build his career in local-government housing delivery.

Adam explains the attraction: the satisfaction of building homes people genuinely need, the creativity of working with fewer resources, and the chance to make a visible difference in residents’ lives.

“If I work 40 hours a week, I walk home knowing I’ve helped deliver homes people really need.”

🎥 Part of 1.5 Million New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, sponsored by Red Loft and Lovell.

#Sutton #HousingDelivery #PublicSectorCareers #LocalGovernment #AffordableHousing #GraduatesInHousing #1Point5MillionNewHomes

The Lovell View: What Councils are Getting Right - London Borough of Sutton

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

What makes a council great to work with?

At Elm Grove Estate in Sutton, Lovell Partnerships are delivering a major regeneration scheme in partnership with Sutton Council.

In this film, Lorraine Casey and Neil Brooks from Lovell explain what makes Sutton stand out — clear objectives, honest dialogue, and a genuine partnership built on trust and delivery.

They also discuss how the Building Safety Act, changing market conditions and sustainability standards – including the drive towards Passivhaus standards – are reshaping the way developers and councils must work together to get homes built.

🎥 Part of 1.5 Million New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, sponsored by Red Loft and Lovell.

#Sutton #HousingDelivery #Regeneration #PartnershipWorking #Lovell #LocalGovernment #AffordableHomes #1Point5MillionNewHomes #BuildingSafetyAct

What Needs to Change to Get More Homes Built - London Borough of Sutton

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Head of Housing Regeneration Adam Tucker explains what needs to change to get more homes built — from the level of grant funding and local authority finance to the way we attract people into the sector.

At Elm Grove, Sutton is replacing 73 outdated homes with 277 new ones. Adam shares how the council is anticipating new policy requirements, planning for long-term risk, and focusing on people, not just numbers.

“You don’t do this job because you want to produce a unit. This is about homes. It’s about lives.”

🎥 Part of 1.5 Million New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, sponsored by Red Loft and Lovell.

#Sutton #HousingDelivery #LocalGovernment #Regeneration #AffordableHousing #PublicSectorLeadership #1Point5MillionNewHomes

Transcript

Rescuing Beech Tree Place - London Borough of Sutton

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

When Sutton’s contractor went bust halfway through a 100% affordable housing scheme, most councils would have had to start again. Instead, the team at Sutton — led by Adam Tucker with support from Red Loft, Bugler Developments and consultants CPC — brought the site back to life.

At Beech Tree Place, 92 homes are now being completed on time and on budget thanks to collaboration, trust and pragmatic “value engineering” that didn’t cut quality.

Featuring: Adam Tucker (LB Sutton), Tracy Bradwell (Red Loft) and Jeremy Bugler (Bugler Developments).

Part of 1.5 Million New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, sponsored by Red Loft and Lovell.

#Sutton #AffordableHousing #HousingDelivery #LocalGovernment #CouncilHousing #Regeneration #BeechTreePlace #1Point5MillionNewHomes

Funding Housing Ambition Sustainably- London Borough of Sutton

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Spencer Palmer takes us to Beech Tree Place, one of Sutton’s largest affordable housing projects.

He explains how Sutton is balancing ambition with financial realism — funding over 600 new homes, improving sustainability, and setting long-term value through Passivhaus-quality design.

The Difference a Home Makes - London Borough of Sutton

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

How do new council homes change people’s lives?

In Sutton, Jean and Russell share what moving into their new homes has meant for them. Jean worked in the NHS and raised three children in a council house; Russell spent years working for Sutton Council itself, driving HGVs and keeping Sutton’s streets clean.

Their stories show that council homes don’t just support people in need — they give working people stability, safety and community, so they can contribute to society.

Part of 1.5 Million New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, sponsored by Red Loft and Lovell.

Meeting Sutton's Housing Needs - London Borough of Sutton

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Sutton’s Director of Housing, Linmora Blair, discusses the borough’s growing housing need and how regeneration is creating new opportunities.

With 2,000 families on the waiting list, Sutton is working with partners such as Berkeley to deliver 500 new homes over five years, meeting local demand and supporting new communities.

Ambitious for Sutton - London Borough of Sutton

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Helen Bailey, Chief Executive of the London Borough of Sutton, explains why housing is central to everything councils do — from public health and education to economic renewal.

With 1,150 families in temporary accommodation, Sutton’s ambition for new, high-quality homes is about giving residents security and opportunity.

How Sutton is Delivering New Homes - London Borough of Sutton

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Sutton’s first Passivhaus-standard council homes — 11 new flats at Wiltshire House in Wallington. Councillor Jake Short explains how Sutton Council is using small sites and direct delivery to raise standards, cut tenants’ energy bills by 40%, and set the benchmark for future council housing.

"That's a disaster" - London Borough of Brent

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Chairman Killian Hurley was kind enough to share with us some of the wisdom that has enabled Mount Anvil to drive forward eight estate regeneration projects in seven London boroughs during the last five years – all subject to build cost inflation, new building regulations and a tough sales market – delivering 4,490 homes, including 1,596 affordable.

“And there’s a clear pathway on all those schemes to make them viable,” he says.

"The most brilliant things about this job" - London Borough of Brent

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

The masterplan to deliver 3,000 new homes at Staples Corner was two-and-a-half years in the making. Brent Council Regeneration Manager Kiran Chauhan describes her role in it, her pride in its adoption last November, and the joy she takes in testing ideas, and discovering innovations, that come from gathering different talents and experiences in collaboration to squeeze as much as possible out of constrained sites.

That and the fulfilment from reassuring local people, about the benefits they will derive from growth, more than make up for the frustrations: staff turnover, the effort to keep abreast of legislation and planning rules and “having to be an expert on everything”.

"This crisis is 40 years in the making" - London Borough of Brent

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Visiting Wembley High Road with Brent Council Head of Regeneration Jonathan Kay, we look at housing delivery in a "tight urban environment” very different from neighbouring Wembley Park: Cecil Avenue and Ujima House (renamed Zephaniah House, after the poet), providing 291 homes, 50% affordable, plus commercial and community spaces, in partnership with Wates.

"That's a huge, huge saving" - London Borough of Brent

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

As Brent Council explores how to bring forward sites around Wembley Park, head of planning and development services David Glover discusses development costs and risks and how they are amplified by changing circumstances – even at a location with huge capacity and potential to deliver homes and jobs, with really good public transport access, near a major town centre, which isn’t going to impact existing communities...

"The Government is really very sensible" - London Borough of Brent

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Head of Planning and Development Services David Glover examines aspects of engagement, including AI and digital engagement models (with a shout out for Cornwall Council’s work); how the council involves its communities in creating its Local Plan (and what should happen when a Local Plan is not adopted); and operating a strategic planning committee (and how it anticipates the Government’s planning reforms).

"Don't fight the system, work with the system" - London Borough of Brent

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Our conversation with Gerry Ansell, Director of Inclusive Regeneration and Climate Action at Brent Council, takes in the council’s role in delivering Wembley Park, the difficulties of direct delivery, the valuable role of planning committees and building safety regulation.

"Everyone has learned lessons" - London Borough of Brent

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

In the sunny, verdant setting of the new Union Park, we meet John Stiles, Placemaking Manager at Brent Council, to talk about the success of the surrounding Wembley Park development – and the one thing he would change, if starting the scheme again from scratch.

"Not just homes, but what comes with that" - London Borough of Brent

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Describing her pride in providing homes for people of many nationalities and cultures, London Borough of Brent Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Property, Councillor Teo Benea sets out an ambition to build 23,000 new homes in the next few years. But beyond the homes themselves, she asks developers in the borough to focus on the spaces around them – especially places that enable that diverse community to come together.

Bold decisions: Councils thinking commercially

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

We are pleased to share this month's webinar from 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, with London Borough of Camden.

"Bold decisions: Councils thinking commercially"

This webinar features:

David Burns- Director of Economy, Regeneration and Investment at London Borough of Camden

Anna Clarke- Director of Policy and Public Affairs at The Housing Forum

Tom Conlon- Development Director at Red Loft

Sarah Yates- Research and Events Manager at Future of London

Toby Fox (Chair)- Founder of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge

We asked David Burns what's at the top of his intray, in the wake of the spending review. We also explored how Local Authorities are stepping beyond traditional roles to take bold, innovative action in tackling the housing crisis. Panellists will discuss the risks and rewards of direct development, partnership models and balancing risk with pace of delivery. The conversation will offer practical insights into how councils can act entrepreneurially to deliver more and better homes

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"There's a fantastic initiative" - London Borough of Camden

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

With 50,000 people due to retire by the end of this decade from asset management roles, 20,000 from development roles, and 40% of the construction workforce, we need to recruit an awful lot of people just to stand still. Zohra Chiheb (Regeneration Team Leader, Camden Council) and Tom Conlon (Development Director, Red Loft) discuss the need for more capacity to support the 1.5m new homes ambition.

"We went into it eyes open, knowing it might not work" - London Borough of Camden

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

The Camden Film Quarter is a bold scheme, to deliver over 1000 affordable, private sale, BTR and student homes, with media production facilities, a National Film and TV school and the London Screen Academy. And it’s required bold moves by @Camden Council: to act as convener, bringing together 18 landowners to get a consensus on making something of the area’s potential; to agree to dispose of its own land, rather than procuring a development partner, to deliver at pace; to be clear that it would use CPO powers if required; and to accept that even after all this there was risk that it wouldn’t work out.

None of these come easy and meant the council had create a working environment of trust between officers, members and the Council’s partners. We’re grateful to Director of Economy, Regeneration and Investment David Burns for talking us through the process.

"Values are shining through what's delivered" - London Borough of Camden

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Meeting at the Greenwood Centre, a facility co-designed with and providing shared services for disabled and older people, Regeneration Team Leader Zohra Chiheb talks us through her role in delivering Camden Council's Community Investment Programme, the day-to-day responsibilities of a project manager, the skills required and the values that inspired her to leave behind a career in architecture and take up a role in local government.

We've got to do more for the people of Camden - London Borough of Camden

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

The Government’s new homes agenda is as much about growth as it’s about housing – new jobs as well as new homes. The regeneration of Euston driven by HS2 is a case in point: 32,000 jobs and 4-5,000 new homes over 25 years. The Leader of Camden Council, Councillor Richard Olszewski, talks us through the scale of what could be achieved, what it takes to ensure that the growth is inclusive and local people benefit, and how a locally-led development corporation with planning powers would be the most effective vehicle to drive the regeneration programme.

"Out of that has come resilience, community spirit" - London Borough of Camden

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

The new homes springing up around the HS2 redevelopment zone are part of the gain from investment in new national infrastructure – but also part of the cost. As she sets out what Camden Council wants to see change, to get more homes built, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Community Investment, Councillor Nasrine Djemai, talks us through the disruption she faced to her home and education as a local resident growing up in the area, and what that taught her about community engagement.

"We're not just sayers, we're doers" - London Borough of Camden

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

“We’re not just sayers, we’re doers,” says Councillor Nasrine Djemai, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Community Investment at London Borough of Camden. “Camden is the place where things happen.”

And for her and for Leader, Councillor Richard Olszewski, the focus is on making new homes happen. While setting out the borough’s enviable economic and cultural strengths, they acknowledge the overcrowding, high costs of temporary accommodation and long waiting lists for social and affordable homes that make housebuilding a top priority - in this first of a series of videos asking what works and what needs to change to get more new homes built in Camden.

Webinar: Best practice in deep community engagement on estate regeneration

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

We are pleased to share this month's webinar from 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, with Westminster City Council.

"Best practice in deep community engagement on estate regeneration"

This webinar features:

Tom Beardmore - Social Value and Communications Director at Mount Anvil

Tom Conlon - Development Director at Red Loft

James Green - Director of Regeneration and Development Delivery and Operations at Westminster City Council

Setareh Neshati- Director of Regeneration and Development Delivery and Operations at Westminster City Council

Anna Odedun - Head of Knowledge at Future of London

Luke Tozer - Owner of Pitman Tozer Architects

Toby Fox (Chair) - Founder of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge

We asked Setareh and James what's at the top of their intray, with the spending review approaching and we also delved deeper into the topic of community engagement whilst analysing the Ebury Bridge Estate regeneration case study.

We hope you enjoy and don't forget to follow along on our social media channels so that you don't miss any of our upcoming content:

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Special Report - No Shortage of Talent - Mount Anvil on Development Partnerships

Fri, 30 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

In our final episode from Westminster, co-sponsor Mount Anvil’s newly-appointed Chief Growth Officer Lisa Ravenscroft describes the developer’s commitment to building robust public-private partnerships as a model for driving new homes delivery – exemplified by the Church Street regeneration to provide 450 homes, 50% affordable, and additional placemaking.

On the difficulties of translating the soft, emotional aspects of a strong relationship into a corporate culture, she says setting out shared aspirations and expectation enables partners to operate “shoulder to shoulder, looking at the targets, rather than sizing each other up”.

With five London schemes going through planning, Lisa responds to the demands that multiple tenders for more work, expected imminently, might place on the sector’s capacity to deliver: "There's no shortage of talent and capability,” she says. “I think sometimes there are shortages of environments that unleash that.”

Special Report - Pitman Tozer Architects on "Good Homes for All"

Fri, 30 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Interviewed shortly before the launch of “Good Homes for All”, the report by Architects' Action for Affordable Housing, Founder Member Luke Tozer of Pitman Tozer Architects, sets out his concern that good design might be neglected in the rush to build more homes. Luke also highlights the challenges of meeting promises to deliver on schedule, how disappointment can impact the trust that local communities have in the development process, and the need to change the adversarial culture of development.

Based in Westminster as a resident and practice, Luke sets out what he loves about the place and how he’d like to see that reflected in the evolving built environment – including the Tulip Cycle Wands being trialled at Sussex Gardens.

Starting a Career - Westminster City Council

Thu, 29 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Development Manager John Ndukuba started out in engineering before making the switch to public sector housing delivery with Westminster City Council. He describes cutting his teeth on projects like Dudley House, providing 197 intermediate homes, a church and a school.

A communications role led Nithushan Rajaratnam to a place on Future of London’s emerging talent programme and eventually his role as Assistant Development Manager at the Council.

Together they explore what they get out of their work, the daily challenges they have to face and the skills they bring to the roles – as well as sound advice for anyone wondering what to do with their professional lives

Building a Career Part 2 - Westminster City Council

Fri, 23 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Senior Development Manager Mollie Mills O’Brien considers her role on the 144-home scheme at 291 Harrow Road, and the variety of daily tasks she has to keep the project “always in line with the vision: what stakeholders and what we have decided that place should be”.

She sets out the skills and attributes she brings to development management; and she describes her journey from private sector development, taking her frustrations with the public sector into a local authority role and “doing what I could to make it better”.

And her advice to anyone considering following that path? “Don't get taken down by the daily struggles. That day when you see all your hard work come to fruition is so powerful.”

Building a Career Part 1 - Westminster City Council

Thu, 22 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

We hear about the evolution of Westminster City Council’s direct delivery programme, and the 45-strong team it takes to deliver 4,000 new homes.

Over halfway to target, Setareh Neshati, Director of Regeneration and Development Delivery and Operations, reflects on the joy she takes in leading that programme, balancing the Council’s priorities, her determination not to be a bad client and her pleasure in a rigid governance process and strong resourcing that enables her team to operate at pace. “The way we make decisions is quite swift.”

Local Politics of New Homes - Westminster City Council

Wed, 21 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

We visit 300 Harrow Road to hear why Westminster City Council invested some £60m improving the proportion of social and affordable homes in this scheme and Westmead from 50% to 100%.

And the leader, Councillor Adam Hug, hints at the imminent next phase of development sites coming forward, explaining how the council manages difficult build conditions for existing residents, competing demands for land, and the political impact of an accelerated housing programme in a “high cost, high reward” development environment.

What Needs to Change? - Westminster City Council

Tue, 20 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

“We’re very well resourced and we’re ready to go,” says James Green, Director of Regeneration and Development Strategy at Westminster City Council. Calling for “serious conversations” about raising grant funding to scale up its pipeline of over 2,000 new homes, he adds: “We’re hugely ambitious. We can do this, as a council.”

If you want more homes built, fund the public sector, James says. He compares private and public sector housing delivery; lays bare the mathematics of delivering affordable homes; the gruesome consequences of Right to Buy; and the business case for council direct delivery and investing in new homes.

Ingredients for Success - Westminster City Council

Fri, 16 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Join Setareh Neshati, director of regeneration and development delivery and operations at Westminster City Council, on a journey that began with residents demonstrating against the regeneration of Ebury Bridge Estate to the delivery of 750 high-quality, net zero new homes, more than 50% affordable. Hear how industry KPIs were met, while fulfilling the Council's high ambitions for residents, despite building through Covid on a constrained site – the ingredients for successful housing delivery – and a call for more grant funding to enable more new homes.

What's Great About Westminster - Westminster City Council

Tue, 13 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

This episode closes with a perfect summary of the state of public sector housing delivery from Westminster City Council Director of Development and Regeneration Strategy James Green: a highly ambitious target, immense challenges to overcome, relentless drive and determination to succeed – and optimism that solutions can be found.

This is a great place to begin our Westminster season, a series of interviews with officers and members on what works and what needs to change to get more homes built. We’ll also be surveying several impressive careers and offering advice to future housing leaders.

Webinar: Hard-wiring inclusivity into regeneration and development

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 09:00:00 +0000

We are pleased to share this month's webinar from 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, with London Borough of Lambeth.

"Hard-wiring inclusivity into regeneration and development"

This webinar features:

Jo Davis- Director of JD Consulting and Solve Social Value

Nabeel Khan- Corporate Director for Climate and Inclusive Growth at LB Lambeth

Danny Sutcliffe- Partner at Red Loft

Toby Fox (Chair)- Founder of 1.5M New Homes

We asked Nabeel what was at this top of his in-tray, as the spending review approaches, and look in more detail at how the Borough is ensuring that development and growth is inclusive. What are the trade-offs involved? What kind of partnerships are required? How can inclusivity be hard-wired into regeneration? What lessons have we learned and how are they being applied in Lambeth?

We hope you enjoy and don't forget to follow along on our social media channels so that you don't miss any of our upcoming content:

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Careers in Public Sector Housing Delivery - London Borough of Lambeth

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Lambeth Council Development Manager Luke Kelly offers careers advice and reflects on the skills needed to perform his role, and the mixture of excitement and trepidation that goes with shaping and delivering homes that people will live in. “There’s nothing like getting stuck into a project,” he says.

Local Politics of New Homes- London Borough of Lambeth

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 09:00:00 +0000

In Lambeth, south London, almost 5,000 households are in temporary accommodation and 30,000 on the waiting list for new homes.

Councillor Danny Adilypour describes how the way “developer tax” s106 money is raised and spent, how the Council’s own direct delivery programme creates affordable and social homes, and how partnerships with private sector developers are shaped, ensure local people benefit from housebuilding.

What works & What Needs to Change: London Borough of Lambeth

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 09:00:00 +0000

A visit to a housing site in Brixton, South London, to talk about successful new housing and the systemic issues holding back the delivery of new homes.

Why does development take so long? How does the subsidy system for affordable and social homes work? What does it actually cost to build a house? All this and more.

What's Great About Lambeth? London Borough of Lambeth

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In the appropriate setting of the new black-led cultural events space, Brixton House Theatre (London’s first new theatre in half a century), we explore links between housing and Lambeth’s creative economic drivers, including the life sciences innovation district SC1, creating 60,000 new jobs as a key element of the London Growth Plan. With 20% of households facing deprivation, how does the Council ensure the benefits of growth are felt equally?

“That really focuses our mind in terms of need,” says Corporate Director of Climate and Inclusive Growth, Nabeel Khan. “We’re pulling on all the levers we’ve got.”

Webinar: What can we learn from Barking & Dagenham on public private partnerships?

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000

We are pleased to share this month's webinar from 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, with London Borough of Barking & Dagenham.

"What can we learn from Barking & Dagenham on public private partnerships?"

This webinar features:

Caroline Harper- Interim Managing Director at Be First

Paul Nicholls- Regional Managing Director for London at Wates

Danny Sutcliffe- Partner at Red Loft

Toby Fox (Chair)- Founder of 1.5M New Homes

We asked Caroline what was at the top of her in-tray, as she gets to grips with a new mandate to manage £4bn of council assets and works to bring at least one new housing development site to market by the summer.

We hope you enjoy and don't forget to follow along on our social media channels so that you don't miss any of our upcoming content:

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Special Report from 1.5M New Homes: Shared Ownership and the squeezed middle

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000

A TikTok viewer asked about “the deal for the people in the middle” - "The normal working people who can’t afford £1m but also working professionals not eligible for council homes?” This special report offers a response from Barking and Dagenham Council’s development company Be First, and housing consultant @Red Loft, focusing mainly on the shared ownership tenure and the need for more of it...

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Thanks to Red Loft and Wates for sponsoring this episode. And thanks to London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and Be First for taking part.

Starting a Career - London Borough of Barking & Dagenham

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Be First Interim Managing Director Caroline Harper sets out the recruitment and skills requirements of the company’s new mandate, and offers some advice on career development. “If you’re enjoying a job 80% of the time, you’re in the right area," she suggests. “If you’re not, you need to change something.”

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Thanks to Red Loft and Wates for sponsoring this episode. And thanks to London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and Be First for taking part.

Local Politics of New Homes - London Borough of Barking & Dagenham

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000

London Borough of Barking and Dagenham leader Dominic Twomey on how national housing policy trickles down to local people, how difficult it is to make policy accessible to parts of the community, and a revelatory first experience of consultation. “It was a very sobering lesson for me.”

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Thanks to Red Loft and Wates for sponsoring this episode. And thanks to London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and Be First for taking part.

What Needs to Change - London Borough of Barking & Dagenham

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000

A special double-header on “what needs to change to deliver more homes”, with Be First head of consultancy Anna Sinnott and senior project manager Danny Taylor discussing planning and procurement reforms.

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Thanks to Red Loft and Wates for sponsoring this episode. And thanks to London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and Be First for taking part.

Ingredients for Success - London Borough of Barking & Dagenham

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000

We’re at 12 Thames Road, where London Borough of Barking and Dagenham’s wholly-owned development company Be First is “taking a bit of a risk” co-locating 3,500 (100% affordable) new homes with 40,000sq m of light industrial space.

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Thanks to Red Loft and Wates for sponsoring this episode. And thanks to London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and Be First for taking part.

Special Update: Reorganisation at Be First Part 3

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000

The final part of our three-episode report on the reshaping of London Borough of Barking and Dagenham's wholly-owned development company, Be First: today we’re with Paul Nicholls, the new managing director for London at Wates, Be First’s development partner on the highly-regarded Gascoigne Estate regeneration.

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Thanks to Red Loft and Wates for sponsoring this episode. And thanks to London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and Be First for taking part.

Special Update: Reorganisation at Be First - Part 2

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Be First’s newly-appointed interim managing director Caroline Harper describes the company’s new mission: maintain delivery of 750 new homes a year, manage the Council’s £4bn asset portfolio, and reach out to prospective development partners and investors, getting at least one new site to market this summer.

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Thanks to Red Loft and Wates for sponsoring this episode. And thanks to London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and Be First for taking part.

Special Update: Reorganisation at Be First Part 1

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Leader of London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, councillor Dominic Twomey, describes the financial constraints forcing significant change at the Council’s wholly-owned development company Be First.

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Thanks to Red Loft and Wates for sponsoring this episode. And thanks to London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and Be First for taking part.

What's great about Barking & Dagenham

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Newly-appointed interim managing director of Be First, Caroline Harper, describes Barking and Dagenham’s unique scale of opportunity to provide new homes for aspirational working Londoners. And with council-backed funding drying up, can the council-owned company find ways of making housing investment attractive to private sector capital?

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Thanks to Red Loft and Wates for sponsoring this episode. And thanks to London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and Be First for taking part.

Webinar: What works and what needs to change to deliver more homes. Featuring, the London Borough of Hounslow

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000

We are pleased to share the fourth webinar in our series, with Hounslow

"What works and what needs to change to deliver more homes. This month featuring, the London Borough of Hounslow."

We hope you enjoy and don't forget to follow along on our social media channels so that you don't miss any of our upcoming content:

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Special Report - Hounslow

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Special report from 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge on community engagement.

How do a Councils and Developers align and successfully engage a local community on a development of 1,000-plus new homes? Here’s a case study from London Borough of Hounslow, where Hadley Property Group is redeveloping the GSK campus into a mixed-use area including 1,000-plus new homes.

Don't miss the next video in the series, a special report on community engagement: subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date:

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Many thanks to our founding sponsor Red Loft and this episode’s co-sponsor Hadley Property Group. And thanks to Hounslow Council for taking part.

Careers in Public Sector Housing Delivery - Hounslow

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:00:00 +0000

London Borough of Hounslow Assistant Director for Housing Development and Supply Pratima Sood highlights the importance of supportive colleagues and mentors, both inside and outside the workplace, and she recommends a career in Public Sector housing delivery to anyone who loves a good haggle.

Don't miss the next video in the series, a special report on community engagement: subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date:

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Many thanks to our founding sponsor Red Loft and this episode’s co-sponsor Hadley Property Group. And thanks to Hounslow Council for taking part.

Local Politics of New Homes - Hounslow

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:00:00 +0000

How do councils balance the need for investment and growth - not least in new homes - with local people’s resistance to change - their fear, as London Borough of Hounslow leader, councillor Shantanu Rajawat puts it, of “what will be available for me, in my time of need, if there is so much pressure on the system”?

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Many thanks to our founding sponsor Red Loft and this episode’s co-sponsor Hadley Property Group. And thanks to Hounslow Council for taking part.

What needs to change - Hounslow

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Director of regeneration and growth Peter O’Brien describes how London Borough of Hounslow is responding to the Government’s plans for a modern industrial strategy and to the London Growth Plan by creating a Business Case for Growth, which supports the Council’s investment in its own capacity to deliver economic growth and new homes.

“We’ve got an excellent council housing delivery team,” he says. “I’m looking to grow a team with capacity in estate regeneration, area regeneration, inward investment, sector development. I want to be in a position to partner with those looking to invest in Hounslow, to smooth the journey for them, while securing value - financial, social, economic and environmental - for the citizens of Hounslow.”

Don't miss the next video in the series, focusing on the local politics of delivering new homes in Hounslow: subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date:

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Many thanks to our founding sponsor Red Loft and this episode’s co-sponsor Hadley Property Group. And thanks to Hounslow Council for taking part.

Ingredients for Success - Hounslow

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 09:00:00 +0000

We’re at Lampton Parkside, where Notting Hill Genesis is building 940 homes on Hounslow Council’s former civic centre site, with 40% affordable and 75 bought by the Council.

Director of Growth and Regeneration Peter O’Brien praises his predecessors and for their foresight in "making the best use of the site for maximum public gain”.

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Thanks to Red Loft and Hadley Property Group for sponsoring this episode. And thanks to Hounslow Council for taking part.

What's great about Hounslow?

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 09:00:00 +0000

A housing success story? Director for regeneration and growth Peter O’Brien kicks off our London Brough of Hounslow season, describing a borough that has over-delivered on housing targets, shrunk its TA list and still has the potential for 7,000 new homes on the Golden Mile (Great West Road) alone.

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Building a Career - Cambridge City Council

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Retaining talent is one of the big challenges facing Councils, so we asked Ben to describe how he’s built and sustained a career in public sector housing delivery, from his early years in education and then as a sustainability consultant, through to helping Cambridge deliver its thousandth home.

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Many thanks to our founding sponsor Red Loft and this episode’s co-sponsor Hill Group. And thanks to Cambridge City Council for taking part. We’ll be back in February with a report from London Borough of Hounslow.

Cambridge Special Report - How Investment Partnerships can Unlock Potential Housing Sites

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 09:00:00 +0000

A special report from 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge on how investment partnerships have unlocked housing sites for development in Cambridge, and where else they might be appropriate.

Don't miss our next episode in the series, featuring Hounslow council. Subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date:

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Starting a Career - Cambridge City Council

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Attracting talent is a big challenge for councils delivering new homes, so we spoke to some of that talent: Cambridge City Council Project Manager Molly Savino told us about her role in delivering 120 council homes, a community centre, library and other facilities and commercial space at East Barnwell.

Don't miss the next video in the series, looking at sustaining a career in housing delivery. Subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date:

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Many thanks to our founding sponsor Red Loft and this episode’s co-sponsor Hill Group. And thanks to Cambridge City Council for taking part.

Local Politics of New Homes - Cambridge City Council

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 09:00:00 +0000

We talk about the local politics of delivering new homes with Cambridge City Council executive councillor for housing Gerri Bird. In particular, she describes the impact of disruption and change on tenants, and how the Council eases that process for them – and her insights as a council tenant herself.

Don't miss the next video in the series, looking at starting a career in housing delivery: subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date:

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Many thanks to our founding sponsor Red Loft and this episode’s co-sponsor Hill Group. And thanks to Cambridge City Council for taking part.

What needs to Change - Cambridge City Council

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 09:00:00 +0000

In this episode we visit East Barnwell, where Cambridge City Council wants to build 120 new homes, a community centre, library and other commercial units in the city’s most deprived ward. What’s stopping it? Benedict Binns, assistant director for development, lists the chief blockers to delivering more homes in Cambridge.

Don't miss the next video in the series, focusing on the local politics of delivering new homes in Cambridge: subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date.

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Many thanks to our founding sponsor Red Loft and this episode’s co-sponsor Hill Group. And thanks to Cambridge City Council for taking part.

Ingredients for Success - Cambridge City Council

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Welcome to 1.5m New Homes, the Local Government Challenge.

With Cambridge City Council celebrating its thousandth new homes, we visited one of its benchmark schemes, Ironworks, developed on the city’s old Mill Road rail depot, to understand the ingredients for its success.

Don't miss the next video in the series, looking at what needs to change to build even more homes in Cambridge: subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date.

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Many thanks to our founding sponsor Red Loft and this episode’s co-sponsor Hill Group. And thanks to Cambridge City Council for taking part.

Cambridge City Council - Setting the Scene

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Welcome to 1.5m New Homes, the Local Government Challenge!

Kicking off 2025 we have our interviews with Cambridge City Council.

Setting the scene for visits to two housing development sites in the city, we spoke with Cambridge City Council assistant director of development Ben Binns. Join us throughout January as we learn the ingredients for successful delivery and what needs to change to build even more homes in Cambridge.

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Many thanks to our founding sponsor Red Loft and this episode’s co-sponsor Hill Group. And thanks to Cambridge City Council for taking part.

Ealing Council Webinar - What works and what needs to change?

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 09:00:00 +0000

We are pleased to share the second webinar in our series, with Ealing Council.

"What works and what needs to change to deliver more homes. This month featuring: Ealing".

This webinar features:

David Culliton- Pre-construction Direction at Bugler Group

Joanna Hills- Assistant Director Housing Asset Management at Ealing Council

Emma Osmundsen- Assistant Director Housing Regeneration at Ealing Council

Danny Sutcliffe- Partner at Red Loft

Tovy Fox (Chair)- Founder of 1.5M New Homes

The panel discuss some of the key themes captured throughout this month's instalment in Ealing, setting out what is meant by "building better" and answering three questions:

Given viability issues, cost trends and funding levels, can we afford to "build better"?

Do we have the skills and capacity to build better?

When is refurbishing or rebuilding better than "building better"?

We hope you enjoy and don't forget to follow along on our social media channels so that you don't miss any of our upcoming content:

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Special Report - Industry thoughts on the Government's new Skills Hub

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Our visit to Ealing coincided with the Government’s announcement that it will build 32 Homebuilding Skills Hubs (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ne...)

So we asked Red Loft’s Danny Sutcliffe and Emma Osmundsen of Ealing Council how this might support the delivery of new homes.

Building a Career - Ealing Council

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 09:00:00 +0000

This is 1.5m New Homes, The Local Government Challenge, sponsored by Red Loft and Bugler Developments.

In this episode, host Toby Fox speaks to Ealing Council Strategic Director of Economy and Sustainability Peter George about his role, his reflections on sustaining a career in public sector housing delivery, and on retaining talent in councils. Peter describes why he gets so much satisfaction from his ability to deliver change to people and places.

Don't miss the next video in the series, analysing a successful housing scheme in Ealing: subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date:

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Many thanks to our founding sponsor Red Loft and this episode’s co-sponsor Bugler Developments. And thanks to Ealing Council for taking part.

Host - Toby Fox

Video Production - Sam Underwood

Audio Production - Drew Toynbee

Production Support - Sophie Barker @ Red Loft

Starting a Career - Ealing Council

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Welcome to 1.5m New Homes, the Local Government Challenge, sponsored by Red Loft and Bugler Developments.

Attracting talent is a big challenge for councils delivering new homes, so for our regular segment on starting a career in public sector housing, we spoke to some of that talent: Ealing Council’s Alison Mayer and Esra Abd Elrahman talk us through how they developed the skills needed to move a project - regenerating the council’s own office car park at Perceval House, into potentially 150 new homes - through the planning process.

Don't miss the next video in the series, looking at sustaining a career in housing delivery: subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date:

Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes

Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes

LinkedIn- @1-5m-new-homes

TikTok- @1.5mnewhomes

Many thanks to our founding sponsor Red Loft and this episode’s co-sponsor Bugler Developments. And thanks to Ealing Council for taking part.

Host - Toby Fox

Video Production - Sam Underwood

Audio Production - Drew Toynbee

Production Support - Sophie Barker @ Red Loft

Special Report - How can we reduce contractor vulnerability to get more homes built?

Sat, 14 Dec 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Special report from 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge on how contractor sector vulnerability is impacting housing delivery.

During our visit to Ealing this month, one factor impacting councils’ ability to deliver more homes was clear: the vulnerability of the contractor sector. So we asked Andy Bugler from Bugler Developments and Ealing Council’s Emma Osmundsen how they see the problem and the way forward.

Host - Toby Fox

Video Production - Sam Underwood

Audio Production - Drew Toynbee

Production Support - Sophie Barker @ Red Loft

The Local Politics of New Homes - Ealing Council

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 09:00:00 +0000

In this episode of 1.5m New Homes, we talk about the local politics of delivering new homes with Ealing Council leader, councillor Peter Mason. Describing the challenges facing London in the 1940s (air quality, long commutes, and tall buildings rising on the skyline of an increasingly crowded city) he says: "They were dealing with some of the same challenges we have now. The answer for them was new towns.”

Don't miss the next episode in the series, looking at starting a career in housing delivery: subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date:

Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes

Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes

LinkedIn- @1-5m-new-homes

TikTok- @1.5mnewhomes

Many thanks to our founding sponsor Red Loft and this episode’s co-sponsor Bugler Developments. And thanks to Ealing Council for taking part.

Host - Toby Fox

Video Production - Sam Underwood

Audio Production - Drew Toynbee

Production Support - Sophie Barker @ Red Loft

Many thanks to Captivate.fm for our audio hosting

What Needs to Change - Ealing Council

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Following the collapse of contractor Real LSE last year, Ealing Council has been considering its options for the regeneration of the High Lane estate in Hanwell. We met principal project manager Sam O’Neill onsite and caught up with assistant director for housing regeneration Emma Osmundsen afterwards, to understand how turbulent market conditions have disrupted a scheme that could provide over 500 new homes - and how that has created a chance to “build better”.

Don't miss the next video in the series, focusing on the local politics of delivering new homes in Ealing: subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date:

Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes

Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes

LinkedIn- @1-5m-new-homes

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Many thanks to our founding sponsor Red Loft and this episode’s co-sponsor Bugler Developments. And thanks to Ealing Council for taking part.

Host - Toby Fox

Video Production - Sam Underwood

Audio Production - Drew Toynbee

Production Coordinator - Sophie Barker @ Red Loft

Many thanks to Captivate.fm for hosting the podcast

Ingredients for Success - Ealing Council

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Ealing Council laid the “golden brick” on its 1,000th genuinely affordable new home, we visited one of the council’s big housing projects, Acton Gardens, with regeneration manager Sarah Phillpot, to understand the ingredients for the success of this 3,500-home, 20-year, £1 billion-plus scheme.

Don't miss the next video in the series, looking at what needs to change to build even more homes in Ealing: subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date:

Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes LinkedIn- @1-5m-new-homes TikTok- @1.5mnewhomes Podcast- https://15m-new-homes.captivate.fm

Many thanks to our founding sponsor Red Loft and this episode’s co-sponsor Bugler Developments. And thanks to Ealing Council for taking part.Transcript

Setting the Scene - Ealing Council

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Responding to reports of recent comments by Deputy Mayor of London Jules Pipe (https://tinyurl.com/37ymmm38) on the impossibility of delivering 1.5m new homes, or London’s contribution of 80,000 a year, Ealing Council Strategic Director of Economy and Sustainability Peter George has requested clarification.

Assuming the reliability of the reports, he said: “For the politician responsible for leading on the London Plan, if that person doesn't believe the 80,000 target is deliverable, to some that may call into question the integrity of the London Plan before the process has really got underway.”

Peter was interviewed by 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, to set the scene for a series of visits to housing development sites in Ealing, to understand the ingredients for successful delivery and what needs to change to build even more homes in the borough.

Stay tuned for the next episode, examining the success of the 3,500-home Acton Gardens scheme with Countryside and L&Q, and the council’s role in delivering that.

Thanks to Red Loft and Bugler Developments for sponsoring this episode.

Host - Toby Fox

Video Production - Sam Underwood

Audio Production - Drew Toynbee

Production Support - Sophie Barker @ Red Loft

November 2024 Webinar - Slough Borough Council

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 09:00:00 +0000

In this episode you can find the audio from our webinar, hosted by Toby Fox where we discussed our findings in visiting Slough, and other topical matters, with a panel of experts:

Pat Hayes, Executive Director Housing , Property & Planning, Slough Council

Julia Krause, Assistant Director South East, Homes England

Suzanne Smith, Partner, Housing and Regeneration Team, Capsticks

Neil Jervis, Partner, Red Loft

Don't forget to like and subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date with the latest content:

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Podcast- https://15m-new-homes.captivate.fm/li...

Many thanks to our speakers and audience of the webinar, and as always, thanks to our founding sponsor Red Loft.

Host - Toby Fox

Video Production - Sam Underwood

Audio Production - Drew Toynbee

Production Support - Sophie Barker @ Red Loft

Podcast Hosting - Captivate.fm

Starting a Career - with Neetal Rajput from Slough Borough Council

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 09:00:00 +0000

In this episode we talk to Slough Borough Council head of development management and enforcement Neetal Rajput about her role in bringing a Homes England and Muse scheme forward, how she got started on a career in public sector housing delivery – and why it means so much to her to be delivering new homes in Slough. Her biggest asset?

“Being able to throw myself in at the deep end. Taking hold of tricky, contentious cases. That’s where those skills develop, in terms of negotiation, problem solving, really understanding the developer’s viewpoint and what we can deliver.”

Don't forget to like and subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date with the latest content:

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Podcast- https://15m-new-homes.captivate.fm/li...

Many thanks to our founding sponsor Red Loft.

Host - Toby Fox

Video Production - Sam Underwood

Audio Production - Drew Toynbee

Production Support - Sophie Barker @ Red Loft

How to Build a Career - Slough Borough Council

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 14:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Pat Hayes talks us through his unorthodox career path, the motivations and core skill set driving his progress, and the learning he has picked up on the way. He describes his mentors and influences, his understanding of what people want from Local Authorities, and the challenges of working under financial pressures.

Identifying the abilities most useful in progressing a public sector housing career, Pat says: "It’s about dealing with people and negotiating and influencing, being able to formulate an idea and respond to changing circumstances, working creatively around rules and assumptions. You've got to have a creative mindset to think ‘how do we get the right outcome, rather than [just] following the process’."

Don't forget to like and subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date with the latest content:

Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes

Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes

LinkedIn- @1-5m-new-homes

TikTok- @1.5mnewhomes

Many thanks to our founding sponsors Red Loft

Host - Toby Fox

Audio Production - Drew Toynbee

Video Production - Sam Underwood

Production Support - Sophie Barker, Red Loft

What Needs to Change - Slough Borough Council

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Slough could be a big part of solving London's housing challenge, its housing delivery team believes. "Positionally and spatially it's absolutely marvellous; in population terms it's marvellous,” says Exec Director Pat Hayes. “And there's huge development opportunity: places with cleared brownfield sites, lots of space in the town centre, a massive opportunity in the industrial estate around Heathrow. So everything is going for Slough and the challenge is why it hasn't quite happened, and what we need to do to make it happen."

Exactly.

That's why we visited one of the borough's stalled town centre sites, to see what needs to change for Slough to deliver more homes. We cover CPOs, inexpert landlords, government trust in councils, a new use class for affordable homes, more flexible grant funding, a restrictive regulatory framework and much more.

And if you'd like to share your own experiences of some of the issues raised, join our livestream on Friday 29th November 13:30-14:30 on Microsoft Teams. Find the sign up link on our socials:

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Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes

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Many thanks to our founding sponsors Red Loft.

Ingredients for Success - Slough Borough Council

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the 1.5M New Homes project sponsored by Red Loft

Each month, journalist Toby Fox will be visiting different councils around the UK to ask what they think about the government's pledge to get 1.5 million new homes built.

For November 2024 we are visiting Slough, and in this episode Toby is talking with Pat Hayes, Executive Director Regeneration, Housing and Environment about the ingredients for the successful delivery of new homes.

Production Information

Founding Sponsor - Red Loft

Host - Toby Fox

On-set production & video editing - Sam Underwood

Podcast and audio production - Drew Toynbee

Project Coordination - Sophie Barker

1.5M New Homes

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 09:00:00 +0000

This is the 1.5M New Homes campaign, sponsored by Red Loft.

Each month, journalist Toby Fox will be visiting a different council around England to ask what they think about the Government's pledge to get 1.5 Million New Homes built.

So Subscribe to this feed and stay tuned to hear from councils around the country on what works, and what doesn't, in getting homes built