EG Property Podcasts

Chair: Jess Harrold, legal & professional editor  Speakers:  Ben Rich, chief executive, Radix Helen Wheddon, partner, Stevens & Bolton Darren Cleveland, head of BD, marketing & client services, Stevens and Bolton   This podcast, recorded at UKREiiF, explores the urgent transformation of the UK high street, shifting the focus from declining retail to the untapped potential of health as a new asset class. While there is near-universal agreement that bringing healthcare into town centres is a catalyst for both public wellbeing and economic regeneration, progress is often stalled by systemic friction and fragmented leadership. We'll dive into the institutional barriers, from mismatched investment timescales to a risk-averse culture, that prevent the widespread development of Neighbourhood Health Hubs. We'll also introduce the upcoming Health on the High Street Commission and highlight the plan to unblock planning and financial obstacles, positioning health as a resilient, long-term opportunity for real estate to diversify and repurpose stranded assets. By filling empty shopping centres with vital services, can we increase footfall, drive dynamic growth and deliver wide-reaching societal benefits to the heart of our town centres? 

Chair: Tim Burke, editor  Speaker: Leigh Thomas, group managing director, property, Kier Property When it comes to town and city regeneration, the near-term challenges for developers are stark, but the need for action is pressing and the long-term benefits still clear. In the case of Kier Property, the role of master planner places it in a pivotal position to drive change and overcome challenges. In this podcast, recorded at UKREiiF, Estates Gazette speaks with Kier managing director Leigh Thomas about the projects that prove what can be achieved, what our cities need more of – and less of – from the built environment, and the reset required in public-private partnerships.

Chair: Jess Harrold, legal & professional editor  Speaker: Stuart Woolgar, CEO, Global Guardians In an era of rising urban density and acute housing pressure, leaving buildings dormant is no longer just an oversight. It is an unnecessary direct cost. Across the UK, public and private sector property owners and agents hold significant volumes of empty offices and underutilised assets, often without a clear, viable route to bring them back into use. This episode, recorded at UKREIIF, explores how empty buildings can be repositioned from liability to strategic asset through practical, immediate solutions. Instead of focusing only on long-term redevelopment alone, we examine how intelligent interim use, through approaches such as property guardianship, can reduce holding costs, improve security and activate buildings in real time. Stuart discusses what prevents assets from being used, where traditional models fall short and how a more agile, operational approach can unlock both commercial value and social impact. This brings buildings, and the communities around them, back to life.

Chair: Jess Harrold, legal & professional editor  Speakers:  James Brown, managing director, The Urbanists Mary Ann Brocklesby, county councillor, Monmouthshire County Council Regeneration is often discussed through the lens of city skylines and urban hubs, but the heart of a region's success frequently lies in its towns and rural communities. In these areas, the challenges are unique: tackling hidden social deprivation, nurturing local talent, and creating a sense of "place" that encourages people to stay, grow, and invest their futures locally. In this episode, we are joined by county councillor Mary Ann Brocklesby and James Brown from The Urbanists to explore rural and town centre revival. We dive into the Cardiff Capital Region's guiding philosophy of 'Live, Work and Thrive' and what it actually takes to build a sustainable community where high-quality employment and a fulfilling lifestyle coexist. Regeneration isn't something that should happen to a town; it's a journey that must be travelled with its residents. From fostering deep community integration to enhancing the everyday quality of life, we explore how thoughtful placemaking can bridge the gap between social necessity and economic opportunity.

Chair: Akanksha Soni, news editor  Speaker: Nicola Haigh, national head of real estate & housing, business & commercial banking, Lloyds The British workplace is reaching a tipping point where a building's carbon footprint is becoming as critical as its postcode. As the divide between high-spec green spaces and ageing "legacy" offices widens, a massive national mission is underway to transform yesterday's concrete into tomorrow's essential assets. Delivery depends on partners with the reach and financial innovation to turn that ambition into action.   Joined by Lloyds at UKREiiF, we explore the high-stakes reality of retrofitting the UK's regional skylines and the market-leading debt distribution capability required to bridge the gap. Drawing on regional expertise, we discuss how the shift toward sustainable workspace is powering UK growth and redefining the map of commercial opportunity.

Chair: Tim Burke, editor  Speaker: Derek Griffin, head of acquisitions, Whitbread Premier Inn provides 12% of the UK's hotel accommodation stock – the highest of any hotel operator in any market in the world. This extraordinary success has been delivered through a continual 20-year expansion programme underpinned by a unique business model and flexible property requirements. This April, the company unveiled a new business strategy and five-year plan focused on the continued expansion of Premier Inn, but with greater emphasis on recycling capital from the company's largely freehold estate to fund future bedroom expansion. Greater emphasis is also being placed on leasehold opportunities to drive estate growth. During UKREiIF, Derek Griffin, Whitbread's acquisition head, sat down with Tim Burke to discuss the principles of the new business strategy including how the company plans to go about recycling £1.5bn of property, where it is focusing its new growth, and the future for its popular hub by Premier Inn brand.

Chair: Tim Burke, editor  Speaker: Guy Windsor-Lewis, CEO & founder, Locale Operational drag is the silent killer of asset value. For owners and asset managers, the challenge is clear: how do you deliver more with less, while meeting the rising demands of a multi-generational workforce? This podcast, recorded at UKREiiF, takes you inside the engine room of the UK's most innovative properties. Partnering with Locale, we examine how digitising the occupier journey, from seamless access to on-demand amenities, removes the friction that hinders productivity. We look at the data-driven insights that allow managers to optimise every stage of a building's life. If you want to understand how to align your operational strategy with the evolving needs of your tenants to create a truly resilient portfolio, this is the conversation for you.

Chair: Evelina Grecenko, senior reporter Speakers: Huw Davies, partner head of ESG, Jones Hargreaves Today, the most successful assets aren't just "green"; they are commercially resilient, high-performing spaces that occupiers actually want to inhabit. In this episode, recorded at UKREiiF, we sit down with Huw Davies, head of ESG at Jones Hargreaves, to challenge the traditional view of sustainability. Huw argues for a shift in language and mindset: moving away from the narrow lens of ESG toward the broader, more strategic framework of responsible investment. We'll explore why investors are no longer looking for minimal compliance, but for a clear return on their social and environmental capital. As occupiers demand more flexibility, better amenities and authentic placemaking, the buildings that thrive will be those that treat these demands as commercial opportunities rather than overhead costs. Reflecting on recent projects, from the heritage-sensitive retrofitting of York's historic assets to the delivery of high-spec ESG-led refurbishments in Central London, Huw shares how Jones Hargreaves is bridging the gap between "doing good" and "doing business”. This is a conversation about how the buildings of tomorrow are being built on the responsible investment decisions of today.

Chair: Jess Harrold, legal & professional editor  Speakers:  Joanna Deffley, partner residential development, Shakespeare Martineau James Scott, group director strategy & planning, Urban & Civic  This episode explores the intricate mechanics and strategic rewards of large-scale developments delivered through complex, multi-partner frameworks. Join Joanna Deffley and James Scott, recorded at UKREiiF, as we unpack the blueprint for managing significant expansions that define regional growth. We'll delve into the "multi-partner offering," examining the critical balance between contractual control regulations and the collaborative synergy required to deliver multi-tenure homes at scale. The discussion highlights the shift toward infrastructure-led growth, where fully integrated green infrastructure and sustainable transit are woven into the masterplan from day one. From navigating the inherent risks of long-term projects to seizing the strategic opportunities of a shifting planning landscape, this conversation reveals how diverse partners can align to turn ambitious housing targets into thriving, future-proof communities.

Chair: Akanksha Soni, news editor Speakers:    Steven Calder, head of connected buildings  Bob Allen RCDD, director – smart buildings, Block Solutions For today's occupiers, a building is only as good as its heartbeat: the digital connectivity that keeps their business alive. In this episode, we sit down with Elevate to explore how they are redefining the relationship between landlords, agents and occupiers. We move past the traditional "four-month wait" for fibre and look at how smart infrastructure, like London's innovative rooftop wireless networks, is creating zero-risk connectivity through "Ground to Cloud" resiliency. We'll dive into the story of the Preconnect® model, a partnership-led approach that removes the headache of individual installations and learn more about the Wayleave agreements that enable landlords to offer "moving-in ready" connectivity, a powerful lever for occupancy and asset value. Join us as we discuss why the future of the smart building isn't just about the hidden digital backbone or the cables in the walls, but the partnerships that ensure a tenant's first day in a new office is their most productive one. 

Chair: Tim Burke, editor Speaker: Dan Westley, head of portfolio, UK, Vastint In major urban regeneration, the "perfect" masterplan on day one is rarely the right one by the time the final phase completes. While location provides the foundation, it is strategic agility that ensures a development remains relevant across decades of shifting market cycles and evolving human behaviour. In this episode, we sit down with Dan Westley, head of portfolio at Vastint UK, to discuss the delicate balance between long-term conviction and the flexibility to pivot. Drawing on Vastint's major UK schemes, including Sugar House Island in London, Aire Park in Leeds and Cardiff Embankment, we'll explore why successful regeneration is no longer about delivering static real estate, but about curating resilient places that can absorb change.

Chair: Tim Burke, editor Speaker: Helen Collins, principal & managing director, Midlands, head of UK living and affordable housing, Avison Young When the traditional blueprints for BTR and housing for sale no longer align with economic reality, the industry must look to new models and partnerships beyond the balance sheet. Today, the most valuable asset in a developer's toolkit isn't just land or capital, it's the ability to flex and pivot to find the opportunities among the challenges.    In this episode, Helen Collins explores the move toward embedding partnership models. As project feasibility becomes a moving target, Avison Young is seeing a new trend: regional experts joining forces to breathe life into stalled opportunities. We discuss how these collaborative ecosystems are rewriting the rules of delivery, ensuring that vital housing projects move from the drawing board to the community.

Speakers: Tim Burke (chair) | Editor, Estates Gazette Clive Chalkley | Partner, Gowling WLG Luke Tillison | Managing partner, head of transactional, BTG Eddisons Gavin Lacey | CEO, CHPK   Editor Tim Burke talks to some of this year's judges to find out what makes a standout entry, and how they like to approach the judging process.

Speakers: Tim Burke (chair) | Editor Estates Gazette Kellie Hatton | National head of real estate, Shakespeare Martineau Sam Wallis | CEO, GIA Bruce Evans | Chief commercial officer, RentGuarantor   Editor Tim Burke sits down with some of the judges from our category sponsors to discuss this year's awards

Speaker: Steve Coulson CEO and founder, Kitt  Chair: Tim Burke, editor, Estates Gazette While capital continues to chase a narrow pool of prime trophy assets, the industry may be looking for value in the wrong place. This episode explores the "missing middle", the vast majority of the UK office market consisting of smaller, operationally under-managed buildings that represent the sector's biggest untapped opportunity. We discuss why the future of UK offices isn't in new developments, but in the strategic transformation of existing stock. Join us as we break down why the modern arbitrage is purely operational and how investment-grade managed space has officially arrived as the next evolution of the office model.

Speaker: Bev Craig, leader, Manchester City Council  Chair: Evelina Grecenko, senior reporter, Estates Gazette  Greater Manchester has spent a decade as the UK's fastest-growing city region, with productivity consistently outpacing the national average. This success is no accident; it is the result of a long-term leadership approach and a consistent vision that integrates investment in skills and public health to drive a genuine increase in quality of life. In this episode, Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, discusses how the city region is leveraging its trailblazing devolution powers to deliver a £38bn boost to the UK economy by 2035. We explore the launch of the Good Growth Fund, a landmark vehicle designed to pump-prime 2 million sq ft of employment space and nearly 3,000 new homes in its first wave alone.

Speakers: Nick Mumby, partner, Gowling WLG  Chair: Tim Burke, editor, Estates Gazette Real estate is increasingly an operational business rather than a passive investment play. As funding conditions stabilise and sentiment improves, private capital is gravitating toward sectors where hands-on operating capability can drive performance and create value beyond traditional financial engineering. This episode explores how investors and operators are navigating today's sustained capital costs defined by viability pressures, constraints and persistent planning friction. With living sectors continuing to attract capital and overseas investors weighing regulatory and macroeconomic risks, the ability to value-add and execute rather than just allocate is emerging as the key differentiator. If returns in 2026 are shaped by delivery, execution and operational discipline, where is private capital placing its bets and what does the next phase of operational real estate activity look like?

Speakers: Stacy Eden, head of real estate, RSM   Kelly Boorman, partner – head of construction, RSM Chair: Akanksha Soni, news editor, Estates Gazette Real estate may be regaining confidence, but the fundamentals are shifting. We're joined by RSM to unpack the findings of its latest Real Estate 360 survey and explore what's really driving market sentiment in 2026. With 64% optimistic about the year ahead, funding conditions easing and living sectors still leading allocations, is the recovery story finally gaining traction or are viability pressures and tax constraints still holding the sector back? From planning delays and rising development costs to the policy levers government can, and can't, pull, this conversation will examine the mechanics of delivery in a higher-for-longer environment. We'll then pivot to technology. With one-third of firms implementing AI this year and smart buildings topping the innovation agenda, how are data, automation and cyber resilience reshaping risk management and occupier experience? If you want to understand where capital, construction and technology intersect in 2026, this is the conversation you won't want to miss.

Speakers: Steve Rotheram, mayor of Liverpool City Region Chair: Evelina Grecenko, senior reporter, Estates Gazette Liverpool City Region arrives at MIPIM 2026 with a record £11bn pipeline and a 10-year mandate to expand the economy by a further £10bn. This is no longer a vision of what could be, it's a roadmap of what is being built. In this episode, mayor Steve Rotheram details how the region's largest-ever investment fund is fuelling high-growth clusters in life sciences, AI, advanced manufacturing and clean energy. We'll explore the emerging Mayoral Development Corporation designed to strip away planning friction and fast-track 17,500 new homes across the city's historic North Docks, as well as the planned £5bn transformation of Liverpool Central Station. Join us as we discover why Liverpool is the UK's frontline for institutional capital in 2026. 

Speakers: Chair: Shifali Gorka, reporter, Estates Gazette Jill Anderson, acquisitions manager, Whitbread  Jonathan Langdon, senior acquisitions manager, Whitbread  We're diving into the hotel investment race in London and Edinburgh with the experts leading the charge. Learn how affordable brands like Premier Inn are winning the battle for "impossible sites” and get the inside track on the future of UK hospitality development. We'll also discuss whether there's a shared playbook for growth in both cities, how market conditions compare, and what challenges lie ahead for operators and investors. Whether you're active in the sector or tracking UK hotel investment, this is the MIPIM conversation to catch.

Speakers:  Mike Brough, strategic director regional growth, Cardiff Capital Region  Gemma Clisset, partnerships director, Lovell  Chair: Akanksha Soni, news editor, Estates Gazette  Real estate regeneration isn't just about laying bricks; it's about solving the complex puzzles of stalled sites and brownfield land. Across the UK, thousands of homes remain "unbuildable" due to viability pressures, leaving communities in limbo. But in South East Wales, a new blueprint for delivery is emerging. In this episode, we dive into the Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) Housing Viability Gap Fund, a targeted £35m programme designed to breathe life into derelict land. We explore how this "evergreen" approach to investment is converting 230 acres of brownfield into 2,500 new homes.

Speakers: Chris Pilgrim, UK Head of Capital Markets, Avison Young  Richard Day, head of debt advisory, Avison Young Chair: Tim Burke, editor, Estates Gazette For over a decade, London has reigned as the world's most "magnetic" city for capital, but as we move through 2026, the global leaderboard is tightening. While London remains the premier safe haven for international investors, cities like Tokyo, New York and Sydney are strategically competing for the same pool of institutional and private wealth. In this episode, we sit down with Chris Pilgrim (UK head of capital markets) and Richard Day (head of debt advisory) at Avison Young to dissect this shifting gravity. We'll explore how foreign capital is diversifying into high-growth UK assets and how savvy investors are leveraging deep liquidity to secure the next generation of prime real estate.

Speakers: Stuart Woolgar, chief executive, Global Guardians   Chair: Akanksha Soni, news editor, Estates Gazette As the UK faces a widening gap between vacant commercial stock and urgent residential need, the traditional development model is being challenged to move faster. Following a high-level discussion at the London Stand at MIPIM on alternative housing models, this episode serves as a strategic debrief on how property guardianship is reimagining the "standard" build. We're joined by Global Guardian's Stuart Woolgar to discuss how guardianship provides an immediate, risk-mitigating solution for owners of empty buildings while delivering tangible social impact. Exploring 15 years of proprietary data infrastructure, we discuss the ability to mobilise and populate properties in as little as 30 days, turning dormant assets into vibrant community hubs.

Birmingham isn't just growing; it's getting younger. With major projects and investment including HS2, the BBC at Digbeth and the Birmingham Sports Quarter acting as a massive gravitational pull, the city is transitioning from potential to proven delivery. In this episode, Joanne Roney (managing director, Birmingham City Council) discusses how the city's project pipeline is setting new benchmarks for delivery in the UK. We'll explore why Birmingham's status as one of Europe's youngest and most diverse cities is the ultimate de-risking factor, creating built-in, long-term demand for high-quality urban living. We'll also dive into the exciting plans of the Birmingham Central Heart's prospectus, launching at MIPIM 2026. A bold vision reimagining the connection between the business core and the future HS2 terminus. Spanning eight key sites and a partnership of major landowners, these plans are set to transform the public realm. This isn't just about buildings; it's about a city raising its sights through active travel, culture, and civic pride. If the future of investment is shaped by delivery and operational discipline, Central Heart is where Birmingham is placing its biggest bet.

LISTEN Derek Griffin, head of acquisitions at Whitbread, speaks with Estates Gazette reporter Shifali Gorka about how the branded budget hotel sector has evolved in the last decade, why Premier Inn has become such a household name, and what the future holds for affordable travel. Derek talks about what's driving Premier Inn's rapid expansion across the country despite the increasing cost pressures in this tougher economy, and why the real estate industry needs to understand the wider social and economic impact of the hotel sector. A must-listen for anyone who wants to learn about where the budget hotel sector stands today and what the future holds.

What happens when an industry veteran, a NextGen co-chair and Estates Gazette's news editor sit down to talk honestly about diversity, leadership and the changing face of property? Marking Real Estate Balance's 10th anniversary, Sue Brown, managing director at Real Estates Balance and NextGen committee co-chair Kevin Boakye lift the lid on gender parity, social mobility, the fax era, access to the sector and why inclusion isn't a "nice to have"; it's the industry's biggest competitiveness challenge for the decade ahead.

Stephen White, partner at Daniel Watney, joins Estates Gazette to unpack the upcoming business rates changes and their implications for the office sector. From who stands to gain or lose, to how landlords and occupiers can best prepare, this conversation explores the complexities of the upcoming changes and offers some strategies to prepare you for it.

Jack Kelly, CEO of Office Ready Tech, speaks with Estates Gazette reporter Dom Plaskota about the often-overlooked role of technology in driving operational efficiency across office buildings. They explore how tech quietly underpins tenant satisfaction and asset performance but is only noticed when it stops working. A must-listen for anyone looking to future-proof their office operations.

Hear from private sector players about opportunities that innovation zones and knowledge quarters unlock for the built environment. How could we build further on the success of these initiatives?

Kier Property gives fresh touch of paint to Pall Mall as Liverpool City Council unlocks the development. Hear from the firm's development manager Meg Sweeney about the features that differentiate the scheme. 

Hear from young professionals in the built environment about the gaps in employment, skills, and housing. Is this challenge unique to Liverpool or nationwide?

Having positioned itself as a culture and leisure destination, the city looks to become a go-to place for other industries, too. Hear from Liam Robinson, leader at the Liverpool City Council, about turning ambitions into action.  

As cities and towns are being rethought and revamped, Estates Gazette and Avison Young brought together a group of built environment stakeholders to discuss the challenges in urban regeneration, the new thinking they need to show, and the changing mixes of asset classes being brought into focus in new visions. Listen to the panel, conducted at the UKREiiF conference, to hear insight from: Hattie Charlier-Poole, senior development manager, Henley Investment Management Chris Cheap, principal, managing director transactions, Avison Young Matt Cross, deputy director of markets and regions, Department for Business & Trade Mona Hassan, chair, Liverpool City Region Future Impact Board William Scoular, head of business development, Investec  Tom Sleigh, chair of the planning and transportation committee, City of London Corporation Chaired by Tim Burke, Estates Gazette's editor

In this panel discussion, Nathan Atkinson, co-founder of Rethink Food, a not-for-profit with a focus on fighting food insecurity and food waste, discusses the organisation's work with Savills, which has supported the venture since 2019. Speakers: Nathan Atkinson, co-founder, Rethink Food Emma Saunders, director, commercial human resources, Savills Olivia Sutcliffe, associate director, Savills Earth Chair: Tim Burke, editor, Estates Gazette

How would real estate developments differ if the property managers who ultimately run the show when the doors open could be involved earlier – perhaps even during the design of the project? That was the question posed by Savills and guests at an Estates Gazette panel at the UKREiiF conference, which set out to explore the benefits of a more integrated property management mandate that starts before a spade is put in the ground, let alone a key in the door. Listen to the conversation here. Speakers: Matthew King, design director, Savills Heidi Stephenson, director, property management, Savills Craig Bluer, director, Savills Basil Demeroutis, founder, Fore Partnerships Alexia Laird, sustainability director, Landsec Chair: Tim Burke, editor, Estates Gazette  

This year marks the 18th anniversary of the JLL Property Triathlon. As we prepare to return to Dorney Lake on Friday 27 June, Akanksha Soni speaks with JLL community programme manager Natalie Ashwood about this year's charity partner, Age UK, how the event has evolved and some standout moments from previous years.  

Listen to this live discussion from UKREiiF on how tri-tenure developments comprising build-to-rent, for-sale and affordable can be the answer to get large-scale regeneration schemes and stalled masterplans moving quicker.

We sat down with some of our judges for the Estates Gazette Awards for a light‑hearted, informal chat, hosted by Tim Burke, on what makes a winning submission and how market conditions have raised the bar this year. From what peer recognition really means to the “secret sauce” that makes a deal stand out beyond the pound signs, this episode is packed with insider tips.   Listen now to hear discussions on: • What recognition from a judges panel truly signifies • How our revamped, deal‑focused categories will spotlight standout transactions • Why resilience in today's markets matters more than ever • Last‑minute submission hacks to help you shine • The entertainment highlights judges are most looking forward to

Richard Robinson and Estella Prince of property litigation boutique Hägen Wolf discuss developing case law and the pros and cons of having a mobile phone mast on your property, in discussion with EG court reporter James Lumley

EG's legal & professional editor Jess Harrold is joined by court reporter James Lumley to count down the 10 most significant property and planning law judgments handed down during 2024. Their carefully curated list includes such classic staples as forfeiture and the right to manage, major developments in the law of nuisance, and hot topic of recent years including restructuring plans and the Building Safety Act 2022. Not only that, but the year's cases touch on two of the most famous (and well visited) locations in all of the UK. And, if that isn't enough, there is also Weetabix.

Diversity of product offering has been key to surviving a difficult year plagued with economic and political uncertainty, according to Curchod & Co partner and registered valuer Piers Leigh. Curchod & Co sits at the top of the Radius On Demand Rankings for Surrey, with 369,424 sq ft of occupation sales and lettings transacted over 89 deals in the year to date. It has also managed 72 deals in neighbouring Hampshire amounting to 321,751 sq ft. Leigh believes that by having a broad range of property types on its books it has been able to pivot to where the demand is strongest over the course of 2024. He says industrial has accounted for the lion's share of demand, but also says the retail sector has bounced back strongly in some locations but not all, while the office market is achieving super-prime rental figures.

Brighton's high streets are back in business with retail and leisure uptake pushing vacancy rates right down thanks in part to workers returning to the office, according to Newlands Property managing director Rich Lowrey. Lowrey is October's dealmaker of the month, topping the On Demand Rankings for combined deals in the South East with 11 completions totalling 19,603 sq ft. He also did more retail deals last month than anyone else in the UK. The bounceback of the retail sector has definitely been felt in Brighton, says Lowrey, thanks to its cultural diversity and large student population which make it an attractive destination for retail start-ups. He also says the city benefits from a high proportion of local landlords who are more than willing to let to independent retailers.

Jess Harrold is joined by Professor Nicholas Hopkins, the Law Commissioner for Property, Family and Trusts, to discuss the launch of the Law Commission's consultation on the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and the future of security of tenure for commercial tenants. Hopkins outlines the background to the long-anticipated review of Part 2 of the 1954 Act, and explains the Commission's two-stage approach to the project, before presenting the four options for models of security of tenure on which views are being sought in this opening consultation. Listen to the podcast, then have your say at the Law Commission website: https://lawcom.gov.uk/project/business-tenancies-the-right-to-renew/  

In this EG Property Podcast, EG editor Samantha McClary sits down with Grosvenor's HR director Jo Banfield to talk about the changing nature of the employee/employer relationship. With fresh pressure on employers set to come with changes to National Insurance and the Employment Rights Bills, proper communication, trust and understanding between worker and employer has never been more important. Throw a more varied workforce than ever before into the mix and things get even more complicated. But if real estate businesses are committed to attracting and retaining the best talent to ensure that they continue to thrive in this changing world, understanding the importance of people is a vital skill. Dive into this special EG Property Podcast if you're committed to being a better business.

Car parking and the availability of outside space is more important than environmental or sustainability considerations when it comes to attracting occupiers to the majority of industrial and office space, according to Sibley Pares associate Ned Gleave. Sibley Pares tops the Radius On Demand Rankings for Kent in terms of deal numbers so far this year, with 94 completions totalling 344,000 sq ft of space. Gleave, who operates largely across Kent's industrial market, says environmental considerations such as solar panels and EV charging are still considered sweeteners rather than necessities and that parking is often a more important factor than the building itself. He is also hopeful a middle ground can be found regarding regulation on future EPC minimum standards.

The industrial sector has made huge strides forwards in decarbonisation as landlords, tenants and even the customers of tenants all demand increasingly green credentials, according to Lambert Smith Hampton director of industrial and logistics Elise Evans. Evans was the South East's top industrial dealmaker in the Radius On Demand Rankings in September, with five deals totalling 68,201 sq ft of space. Among them was a 40,000 sq ft letting at Langstone Park in Havant in a building rated EPC A+ and powered entirely through rooftop solar PVs. She says demand for the full spectrum of industrial classes remains strong on her south coast patch, where the docks of Southampton support a thriving logistics sector and advanced manufacturing and engineering flourishes further east.

Legal & professional editor Jess Harrold is joined by Guy Fetherstonhaugh KC to discuss the Renters' Rights Bill currently making its way through parliament. Fetherstonhaugh addresses the social context and political history of residential leasehol that has led to the bill, and its central feature - the abolition of section 21 "no fault" evictions. He goes into detail on how the bill will reform the law in this area, and the ways in which it differs from the Conservative government's failed Renters (Reform) Bill. Fetherstonhaugh outlines the other major provisions in the bill, and highlights some areas for improvement he hopes will be addressed as the bill proceeds through parliament.

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast, EG editor Samantha McClary takes a deeper dive into a special roundtable event held in partnership with Montagu Evans at the London Real Estate Forum. That discussion brought together a panel of leading experts to explore the evolving landscape of alternative living, focusing on the integration of multi-tenure and multi-generational communities in large-scale regeneration initiatives. You can read a write up here: https://www.egi.co.uk/news/can-multigenerational-communities-solve-a-multitude-of-problems/ In this discussion, Simon Century, managing director, housing, asset management division, at Legal & General, Matt Steere, data and insight director at Birchgrove, and Jon Neale, head of research and strategic insight at Montagu Evans take a deeper look at the barriers currently blocking the growth of multi-generational living in the UK. Listen in as the trio discussion funding challenges, the need for greater understanding of the power of the living sector, and the need to turn traditional thinking on its head.

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast, EG senior reporter Evelina Grecenko sits down with Tom Mellows, head of UK science at Savills, Michael Samuelian, founding director – Ubrna Tech Hub, Cornell Tech NYC, and Amy Hockley, head of innovation leasing at British Land to investigate London's unique position to nurture the burgeoning science and technology sectors, and the role that the real estate sector can play to support this.   Listen in for lessons from the United States, how London is maturing and what landlords need to deliver to be able to attract best-in-class occupiers.  

Buckinghamshire is the entrepreneurial capital of England and the demand for space from small and medium sized businesses has helped sustain demand over what, for many, is a quiet summer period, according to Chandler Garvey director and head of agency Joanna Kearvell. Kearvell managed seven completions in August, making her the South East's leading dealmaker in terms of deal numbers. She says demand is particularly strong for smaller-scale industrial units and believes the handbrakes need to come off to deliver more buildings of this type, not just for leasehold disposal but also for owner-occupiers.

Britons fell in love with domestic holidays during the pandemic and the lingering appeal has primed the holiday park sector for a fresh round of inward investment, according to Christie & Co director of UK holiday and residential parks Jamie Keith. Keith says visitor numbers are still up on 2019 levels following the frenzy of the pandemic years, when both bookings and transactional activity went through the roof. He believes corporate interest in the holiday park market has been muted over the past 12 months because of high interest rates, but expects to see purse strings loosened over the coming months from both UK and overseas investors.