Fisher German Talks

Artificial intelligence is being hailed as the solution to almost every problem facing the UK planning system. But what if the most disruptive technology of our generation is also one of the most misunderstood? Recorded on the back of our Future Proofing London thought leadership report, host Stuart Flint sits down with three experts to explore what a truly smart city looks like and why getting th...

80% of the buildings that will be standing in the UK in 2050 are already built. That single statistic changes everything when it comes to how we think about sustainable real estate and it's the jumping-off point for this episode of Fisher German Talks. Recorded on the back of our Futureproofing London Report thought leadership report, host Stuart Flint sits down with three experts to explore what...

In this special episode of Fisher German Talks, host Stuart Flint is joined by Sally Chacatte, Founder and Chair of W4Youth, and Tim Sledge, Director of Fundraising at XLP, for a powerful conversation about the realities facing the charity sector, and the young people who rely on it. As Fisher German marks two major milestones, the launch of our Future Proofing London report and the completion of...

Listed building regulations are stringent, and unauthorised works can lead to criminal liability with significant fines or even imprisonment. So what are the regulations and how can you stay compliant? To find out Thomas Blake, Associate Partner at Fisher German, is joined once again by a panel of experts:  Paul Wakefield – Partner and Joint Head of Legal Planning at Shakespeare Martineau Hannah H...

Rising interest rates, changing lending policies, and evolving property investment strategies - navigating the mortgage market can be overwhelming. But what’s really happening, and what should buyers, investors, and homeowners expect in the coming years? Stuart Flint, Partner at Fisher German, is joined by two industry leaders: John Yates, Managing Director of Cherry Street Finance, and Steve Smit...

The government has introduced a new version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), aiming to accelerate housing delivery. But with new targets, greenbelt policies, and planning processes, how will these changes impact real projects on the ground? Luke Brafield and Angela Brooks, Partners at Fisher German, are joined by Tom Mascari, Executive Director at Bentley Project Management. Toget...

Is AI really coming for our jobs? With over 70% of businesses now integrating AI into their workflows, change is already here. But according to Jos Pink, AI isn't about replacing jobs: ‘it’s about making them more efficient.’ Jos is managing director and co-founder of Landstack, a data-driven, AI-powered platform for planning new developments across the UK.    James Beverley, senior associate at F...

The interior of a home helps with the saleability of the property, arguably more than anything else. The interior design, especially of a new build, is hard to get right – but it’s vital. So how does the industry approach this challenge? To find out, Ellie Lockwood, Southern Regional New Homes Manager at Fisher German, and Ella Pearson, Head of New Homes, sit down on the statement sofa (as you’ll...

Traditional concrete solutions have long dominated the underground infrastructure industry, but growing environmental concerns and the need for innovation are driving change. In this episode of Fisher German Talks, Sam Parton is joined by Yannick Joubeaux, CEO of Overpipe, to discuss how their high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plates and mesh are transforming asset protection. Yannick shares the or...

Short-term decision making has dominated economic, environmental and social governance in recent years. Economic decisions in particular have appeared to be made without proper long-term foresight. In this episode of Fisher German talks, we highlight the importance of thinking long-term when you’re planning a sustainable business. Here’s how to plan effectively for the future. Andrew Bridge, Manag...

In the four years since the COVID pandemic, we've seen huge changes in demand for office space, as well as a shift in expectations from employees. Companies are having to adapt to rapid evolution in how they plan, manage and utilise offices.  What does the future hold? What can owners and occupiers expect to see in the coming years? To answer this, Charles Warrack, Partner at Fisher German, is joi...

As part of the Environmental Act of 2021, regions in the UK must adhere to the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, a plan for environmental conservation. Divided into 48 geographical sections, each LNRS will be tailored to its specific area and contain a local habitat map and a written statement of biodiversity priorities. What does this mean for landowners and what are the plans for the next ten year...

Many of the buildings in the UK are classified legally as ‘listed’ – which means they’re legally protected due to their historic or architectural significance. Managing, preserving and improving these listed buildings requires adherence to strict regulations surrounding something called LBC (Listed Building Consent). Thomas Blake, Partner at Fisher German, is joined by Scott O’Dell, Associate Part...

The warehouse market, often referred to as the ‘shed market’, is well-known for being fairly traditional. Historically, leases operate on a minimum 5-year basis, but could all that be about to change? Is flexibility coming to the shed market? There’s a lot of talk at the moment around mixed-use developments that combine logistics and residential spaces; the combination can transform local communit...

We last discussed Diversification on this podcast in November 2022, where we looked at the opportunities for landowners to add additional revenue streams to rural property. Inflation was then, and still is, creating a huge amount of risk for rural businesses. Diversification is a way to offset that risk. So, in this episode, host Ellie Savage sits down with Emily and Sophy, creators of Watersedge,...

Matthew Allen and Richard Gadd are joined by Adam Saunby, Senior Associate at Forsters LLP, to analyse the rural property market. Economic uncertainties and inflation pressures are causing a cautious start to the year, but there’s been a variable supply in rural properties across different regions. Some have seen noticeable increases. Adam highlights the importance of thorough preparation before p...

Featuring Philip Nell, Director of Property & Investment at Birmingham City Council, and Dav Bansal from Howells architects, the third and final episode in the series explores the ambitious "Big City Plan" for Birmingham's future.  With Stuart Flint back in the host’s chair, they discuss the plan's objectives, focusing on sustainable development, innovative architecture, and balancing economic gro...

In this episode, we look at Birmingham as a city in 2023. What’s happening right now, that’s shaping it as a cultural and business hub? Who are the influential people driving the evolution of the city? Stuart Flint, member of Fisher German’s membership team and head of the National Country Agency Team, is joined by Nicola Fleet-Milne, Chair of the Colmore Business District, and Alex Claridge, Birm...

Fisher German has landed in the centre of Birmingham. To celebrate, we’re shining a spotlight on the people who have shaped this city’s past, present and future. In the first of three special podcast episodes, Nicola Turner MBE, CEO of United by 2022 Legacy Charity, and Ian Metcalfe OBE, a pivotal figure in the 2022 Commonwealth Games bid, join Stuart Flint to explore Birmingham's evolution from a...

The UK has net zero targets fast approaching. The government is investing tens of billions of pounds over the next decade in infrastructure, but there will be knock-on impacts to country-wide networks. Some are gearing up to mitigate the risks with new infrastructure - reservoirs, pipelines for water, hydrogen or new electricity upgrades.  Every Utility and Infrastructure operator will start to se...

Recent government policies, such as the development of local nature recovery strategies and the introduction of biodiversity net gain, have put sustainability high on the priority list in the agricultural sector. Meanwhile, with a reduction in government subsidies, increasing pressure financially, and stretched supply chains, landowners and farmers are looking at new ways to improve their profit m...

Despite economic headwinds, demand for industrial space continues up and down the country. In a post-Covid world, the industrial and logistics property market has seen year-on-year growth, contributing to the jobs market and economy as a whole: it provides the infrastructure and space that support businesses, who in turn drive economic growth and foster innovation. Rob Champion, Partner at Fisher...

Interest rates are at their highest level for over 15 years, due largely to high inflation which recently has come down slower than anticipated. This has contributed to record low commercial property investment transaction volumes in Q4 2022 and reduced activity so far this year.  Looking ahead, where are transactions continuing to take place? Which sectors remain liquid? Where has pricing strengt...

The latest government data shows that England has close to 250,000 ‘long-term empty’ homes. It's an opportunity that's certainly caught the attention of entrepreneurs and aspiring developers, who have the time and dedication, to invest in restoring and renovating such properties. On today’s podcast Ellie Lockwood, Senior Associate at Fisher German, is joined by Lucy and Dan Nash, self-proclaimed “...

Modern life revolves around minerals. We need them to to make vehicles, mobile phones, batteries, wind turbines, medical devices – the list goes on. Without the resource to power and build this technology, industries would grind to a halt. As our tech keeps advancing, so does our reliance on the mineral industry. Because of this the growth and maintenance of the industry is more essential than eve...