Grow Places

In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, Tom Larsson is joined by Nick McKeogh, co-founder and Chief Executive of NLA, to explore two decades of building a civic institution dedicated to bringing together everyone who shapes the built environment. Nick reflects on NLA's origins around London's 2005 Olympic bid, born from a simple observation: the professionals who plan, design, fund a...

In this episode, Tom Larsson is joined by Muyiwa Oki, architect, former RIBA president, and now at Mace, to explore what it takes to reform a 200-year-old institution from the inside, why technical grounding matters more than ever for architects, and how the built environment can better serve the communities it shapes. Muyiwa traces a deliberate route through smaller practices, building technical...

In this episode, Tom sits down with Rose Wangen-Jones , Managing Director for Marketing, Destination and Commercial at London and Partners, the growth agency for London. They meet in Southwark to talk about what makes London genuinely distinctive, how the city manages its brand at scale, and the shared responsibility required to keep one of the world's great cities competitive, inclusive and...

This episode takes its title from Henley Halebrown's recently published book, Building for Society, and we are privileged to have worked closely with Simon and the practice for over a decade, aligning elegant and economic buildings with the needs of people and place. In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, Tom Larsson is joined by Simon Henley, Director of Henley Halebrown, at the practic...

In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, Tom Larsson is joined by Tom Holbrook, Director of 5th Studio, to explore what it means to work across the full spectrum of architecture, urban design and strategic planning. Tom describes how 5th Studio has spent over two decades navigating what he calls "border country," the complex, often neglected edges of cities where political boundaries,...

In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, Tom Larsson is joined by Stephanie Edwards, Architect, Urban Designer and Co-Founder of Urban Symbiotics, to explore what it truly means to put people at the forefront of meaningful change in the built environment. Stephanie shares how Urban Symbiotics works at the intersection of people, data and design, using demographically representative engagement t...

In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, Tom Larsson travels to Copenhagen to meet Christian Søndergaard, Head of Saxogade, what may be the world's only socio-economic street. For over 40 years, the nine-shop operation run by an NGO has combined commercial vitality with meaningful work opportunities for people facing significant barriers to employment, from long-term illness to homelessnes...

In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, Tom Larsson is joined by Hilary Satchwell, Director at Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design, to explore what it really means to put people at the heart of placemaking. Hilary reflects on nearly three decades at Tibbalds, where she has worked across scales and settings, from the edges of small towns to the centre of London, always with a focus on creating p...

In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, Tom Larsson is joined by Gerry Hughes, Managing Director of Gerry Hughes Consulting, to explore leadership, delivery and the realities of urban regeneration. Gerry reflects on stepping away from the corporate world to focus on projects that genuinely “make a difference,” from leading a major city-centre regeneration scheme in Belfast to delivering a cutt...

In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, Tom Larsson is joined by Jesse Shapins, Head of Urban Regeneration at Urban Partners, to explore what it really takes to deliver neighbourhood scale change in European cities.   Jesse shares his journey from a childhood shaped by landscape architecture and historic preservation, through New York and Berlin, to the ambition and lessons of Sidewalk Labs, a...

In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, Tom Larsson is joined by John Williams of Scail UK to explore what it really means to get ahead with AI — and where the built environment should be doubling down as technology accelerates. John shares his journey from journalism, through senior marketing roles in property, to building AI-led businesses focused not on hype, but on unlocking the story insi...

In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, host Tom Larsson is joined by Ailish Killilea of The Townscape Consultancy, for a compelling exploration of heritage, townscape, and their roles in shaping places people want to live, work, and visit. Ailish reflects on her journey from the west of Ireland to London’s complex urban fabric and her experiences running marathons, sharing how her fascination...

In this powerful episode of the Grow Places Podcast, Tom Larsson speaks with Pooja Agrawal, co-founder and CEO of Public Practice, a pioneering not-for-profit that places built environment professionals into local government roles to drive meaningful change. Pooja shares her journey from growing up in Mumbai to becoming a passionate advocate for public service in the UK. She dives deep into the im...

How do you actually deliver a school, an office, or a housing block and turn it into something extraordinary? In this episode, Tom Larsson speaks with Paul Monaghan, co-founder of AHMM, about a career spent designing buildings that shape everyday life and the people behind them. With warmth, honesty, and a quiet determination, Paul reflects on the evolution of architecture, the joy of delivering r...

In this episode, Tom Larsson is joined by Kevin McKeever, Managing Director of Lowick Group, a leading strategic communications and public affairs consultancy working at the intersection of development, politics, and community. Kevin also recently co-founded Hedry, a cross-party consultancy focused on building resilience in the built environment. This wide-ranging and honest conversation unpacks t...

In this insightful episode of the Grow Places Podcast , Tom Larsson sits down with one of the most forward-thinking voices in the UK real estate sector – Denz Ibrahim of Legal & General.  As Head of Futuring & Place, Denz shares how he and his team are turning traditional development models on their head by embedding creativity, community, and customer-centric design into every layer of pl...

In this milestone 50th episode of the Grow Places Podcast, host Tom Larsson sits down with renowned architect Kai-Uwe Bergmann , Partner at BIG, to explore the interplay between design, place-making, and global urban transformation . Recorded at BIG’s London studio, this episode dives into: The evolution of BIG’s London office and its roots in the Google King’s Cross and Serpentine Pavilion projec...

In this episode of the Grow Places podcast, Tom Larsson sits down with James Armitage-Hobbs, Director at DP9 , to ask a big question: What role does co-living play in the future of our cities? They explore: How co-living has evolved over the past decade from a niche idea into a recognised housing model. Why loneliness, affordability, and housing shortages make professionally managed shared living...

In this episode of the Grow Places podcast, Tom Larsson sits down with Keir Regan Alexander of Arka Works to ask a big question: Can architects stay relevant in the age of AI? They explore: Why architects need to move beyond aesthetics to embrace responsibility, coordination, and strategy. How AI tools—from masterplanning software to generative models—are reshaping design practice. The risk of arc...

In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, Tom Larsson sits down with Pip Simpson, Director of Buildings and Renewal, at the Barbican. They explore the evolving role of cultural institutions in shaping cities, fostering creativity, and building community. Pip shares insights from her experience at major UK institutions, discusses the Barbican’s unique mixed-use design, and reveals plans for its a...

In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, we sit down with Rob Marten , co-founder of SPACE+ , to explore why tribes — small, intentional communities — are at the heart of human-centric real estate events. Rob reflects on his journey from organising a village music festival called “Twigstock” as a teenager to co-creating SPACEUK , one of the UK’s most distinctive property events. Through candid...

In this energising episode of the Grow Places podcast, Tom Larsson speaks with Kristian Riis—former rock musician and founder of creative placemaking agency Volcano —about the urgent need to rethink how we shape our cities, communities, and lives. From life on tour with his band Nephew to working alongside governments, cultural entrepreneurs, and the King of Bhutan, Kristian shares how his passion...

In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, host Tom Larsson sits down with Sophie Rosier, Head of London Mixed Use, Development, at Savills to explore the evolving landscape of city-making. From her early days at Television Centre to leading complex regeneration projects like Brent Cross Town, Sophie shares how passion, collaboration, and strategic vision are reshaping London’s urban fabric. They...

In this new episode of the Grow Places Podcast, we explore one of the most critical but often overlooked elements of successful regeneration: trust . Kat Hanna, Co-Managing Director (London) at Avison Young, joins us to talk about her journey from public policy into real estate, and how meaningful partnerships—rooted in trust—are essential for delivering real, long-term change in our towns and cit...

What if we told you that the biggest driver of quality of life in a building isn’t space, location, or sleek design – but how connected people feel to each other? In this thought-provoking episode of the Grow Places Podcast , Tom Larsson sits down with Adam Hinds, co-founder of LifeProven, to unpack what truly makes a place thrive. From ESG’s misunderstood reputation to surprising data on mental w...