Better Places

Nick Dines speaks to the CEO of Hub about BTR, co-living and unlocking stalled sites. On this episode of the Better Places Podcast, Concilio’s Nick Dines is joined by Robert Sloss, CEO of Hub, for a deep dive into how Build to Rent has evolved in the UK and what it takes to drive true regeneration. From transforming Maidenhead town centre to unlocking complex sites in Romford and Croydon, Robert d...

Shaun joins Concllio's Managing Director to discuss commercial real estate in the City Fringe and how Compton seeks to stand out by challenging industry norms. — In the latest edition of the Concilio Better Places podcast, Shaun Simons, founder of Compton, joined Concilio's Managing Director Nick Dines to discuss the evolving landscape of commercial real estate in London’s city fringe. Shaun share...

How TfL’s land is being transformed into new homes, places, and genuine social value In this episode of Better Places , Concilio’s Siddo Dwyer is joined by Graeme Craig, CEO of Places for London, and Mark Walker, the organisation’s Strategic Engagement Lead. Together they discuss how Places for London is reshaping the capital by unlocking land around transport hubs to deliver thousands of new home...

Concilio’s Managing Director, Nick Dines, sat down with the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow, at UKREiiF. In the latest episode of Concilio’s Better Places podcast, Managing Director, Nick Dines, sat down with the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow, at UKREiiF to discuss Our Time is Now – the Mayor’s bold vision for unlocking the region’s full potential. P...

Leader of Ealing Council, Cllr Peter Mason, joins Concilio’s Managing Director Nick Dines to discuss housing, regeneration and Ealing’s future. In this episode of the Better Places podcast, Cllr Peter Mason, Leader of Ealing Council, sits down with Concilio Managing Director Nick Dines to explore how Ealing is planning for a future built on housing delivery, local identity, and innovation.   They...

Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee at the City of London Corporation, Shravan Joshi, joins Concilio’s Account Director Luke Tatton for a deep dive into the Square Mile’s future. In the latest episode of Concilio’s Better Places podcast, Account Director Luke Tatton sits down with Shravan Joshi, Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee at the City of London Corporati...

Alex Woolf, COO of Romulus, on reimagining a former shopping centre for a new era of local living, leisure and flexible working. In this episode of the Better Places podcast, Concilio’s Managing Director, Nick Dines, sits down with Alex Woolf, Chief Operating Officer at Romulus, to explore how the team turned the struggling Centre Court shopping centre into Wimbledon Quarter - a thriving, communit...

Leader of Barking & Dagenham Council, Cllr Dominic Twomey joins Concilio’s Account Director Siddo Dwyer to discuss how bold, community-focused leadership is transforming one of London's most dynamic boroughs. In the latest episode of Concilio’s Better Places podcast, Account Director Siddo Dwyer is joined by Cllr Dominic Twomey, Leader of Barking & Dagenham Council, to discuss how bold, co...

In this must-listen episode of Concilio’s Better Places Podcast, Siddo Dwyer is joined by Chris Worrall and Eve McQuillan from Labour YIMBY, leading voices pushing for transformative housing policy within the Labour Party. With Britain's housing system in crisis, Chris—a prominent housing policy expert—and Eve, who formerly led planning in Tower Hamlets, share their insights into how Labour can be...

In this episode, we are joined by Councillor Stephen Cowan , leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council . Stephen shares his journey from being first elected in 1998 to leading the council through significant transformations. He discusses the borough's industrial strategy, the collaboration with Imperial College, and the council's commitment to delivering better value for residents. Tune in to hear...

The founder and CEO of MARK shares the 10 year story of how this iconic London building has been transformed  In this episode, we explore one of London’s most ambitious regeneration projects—The Whiteley.  With C C Land as the chief investor, the project is repurposing a historic shopping centre into a world-class mixed-use destination, featuring luxury homes, premium retail, and the UK’s first Si...

Camden Council’s Cabinet Member for New Homes & Community Investment, Cllr Nasrine Djemai joins Concilio’s Account Director Siddo Dwyer to discuss the future of Camden. In the latest episode of Concilio’s Better Places podcast, Account Director Siddo Dwyer sits down with Cllr Nasrine Djemai, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Community Investment at Camden Council, to explore the future of Camde...

In the latest episode of Concilio’s Better Places podcast, Managing Director Nick Dines sits down with Jules Pipe, Deputy Mayor of London for Planning, Regeneration and the Fire Service, and Lisa Fairmaner, Head of the London Plan, to explore how the London Plan can serve as a foundation for future Spatial Development Strategies across England. Key points discussed: How the London Plan can serve a...

Sarah Cary discusses how White City is fostering innovation, sustainability, and community through thoughtful design and strategic collaboration. In this episode of Better Places , Concilio's Managing Director Nick Dines in conversation with Sarah Cary, White City Development Director at Imperial College London. Sarah discusses the White City Deep Tech Campus, a thriving hub for innovation, sustai...

On this episode of the Better Places Podcast, Cllr Geoff Barraclough, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development at Westminster City Council, joins Account Director, Yiannis Sophocleous for an discussion about the administration’s key priorities for the year ahead, the City Plan Partial Review, and major policy developments at both the London and national level. Key topics discussed incl...

In this episode, we explore how the planning system approaches data centres, what their designation as Critical National Infrastructure means, and the emerging proposals for AI Growth Zones. Other key topics we discuss include: - The Labour Party’s manifesto pledge to remove planning barriers for data centres. - The Government’s recent classification of data centres as Critical National Infrastruc...

In the latest episode of Concilio’s Better Places podcast. Account Director Siddo Dwyer sat down with Lambeth’s Cllr Rezina Chowdhury – Deputy Leader of the Council (Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air).  The episode focused on current challenges and policies that she has overseen not just in Lambeth but ones that have had a London wide effect. This included: How Cllr Chowdhury’s upbringing and deca...

We are delighted to share with you the first episode of Concilio’s Better Places podcast for 2025. Our Managing Director Nick Dines sat down with the country’s highest rated planning solicitor – Simon Ricketts, Partner at Town Legal. In this latest episode of the Better Places podcast Nick and Simon sought to summarise the key planning and local government changes announced by the Government in th...

On the latest edition of the Concilio Better Places Podcast, Account Director Siddo Dwyer sat down with the Leader of Southwark Council, Cllr Kieron Williams.  The interview focussed on the Southwark Council’s recently published Securing the Future of Council Housing report. Over 100 councils formed an unprecedented coalition to identify five practical solutions for a fairer funding deal and refor...

On the latest edition of Better Places, we sat down with leading industry professionals across the property and planning sectors. We were delighted to interview Andy Cox - Director at Trigon development managers, Cat Fraser – Director at Turley planners, and Arron Taggart – Head of UK Investment at Cheyne Capital on their perspective as professionals in the field. Hosted by our very own Siddo Dwye...

On our latest episode, Director Catherine Rose and Account Director Siddo Dwyer hosted a live recording of our Better Places Podcast at Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. The panel explored the ways in which English devolution can be delivered in support of the new Labour government’s mission to build 1.5million new homes, how to deliver the required infrastructure to support this and how to br...

On our latest edition of the better places podcast, we have a Haringey special and are joined by the trio of Cllr Ruth Gordon –the Cabinet Member for Housebuilding, Placemaking and Development, David Joyce –the Corporate Director for Housing, Regeneration and Planning and Robbie Erbmann –the Assistant Director for Housing. In an insightful conversation with our Account Director Siddo Dwyer, a comp...

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

In our latest edition we are joined by Cllr Andrew Judge the Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable Development in the London Borough of Merton. In a detailed and wide-ranging discussion Andrew lays out the plans for regenerating Merton’s high streets and town centres and touches on Merton’s cash injection from the Mayor of London. Andrew also examines the significance of initiatives that has...

In this episode, we are joined by Cllr Omid Miri, Chair of Hammersmith & Fulham's Planning and Development Control Committee and aspiring London Assembly candidate for the London-wide list. Councillor Miri provides an insight into his experience as the Chair of Hammersmith & Fulham's Planning and Development Control Committee, the barriers to building more homes in the borough and the chal...