1.5m New Homes

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 Developmen...

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...

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...

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 exce...

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 plac...

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 ho...

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 G...

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, confid...

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...

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 wh...

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...

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.

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 compl...

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 betwee...

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 epis...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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.

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 &...

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 vi...

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. 🎥...

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 pro...

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 an...