Urban Forecast

In the third episode of our series on Co-Living, we sit down with Damien Sharkey, Managing Director of HUB, to explore how his background as an Architect allows him and the team at HUB to re-imagine the urban environment to provide high quality homes for renters and sharers across the Built-to-Rent and Co-Living Sectors. Damien reflects on his early years in his family's joinery business in I...

In the final part of our series on Urban Co-Living, we welcome Jenna Harris, Head of Co-Living and Co-Founder of Harris Studios at Harris Associates. Jenna shares her expert insights and innovative ideas on the evolving world of co-living. Join us as we discuss the journey of Harris Associates, a leading firm in real estate known for its groundbreaking strategies and creative marketing solutions....

Welcome to our special three-part series on the emerging co-living sector. In this series, we explore how co-living is transforming urban living and addressing critical societal issues. In our first episode, we sit down with Brent Stojanovic, a seasoned expert in creative communications, brand development, and the property sector. Brent is the Director of Verv Life specialists in management of BTR...

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Carolyn Steel, the visionary author behind Sitopia: How Food Can Save the World and Hungry City: How Food Shapes Our Lives. With over 1 million views on her TED Talk, "How Food Shapes Our Cities," Carolyn delves into the intricate relationship between urban environments and the natural infrastructure needed to sustain them. Join us as we explo...

Chris Williamson is Chairman of the board at Weston Williamson + Partners which he founded in 1985. Chris was recently the International Vice President of the RIBA responsible for setting a strategy to grow into a global membership institution and to encourage more UK architects to seek work globally, and is running for RIBA President at the moment.  This episode covers how one book changed his li...

If you missed us at UKREiiF - catch all the insights here! In this episode of the Urban Forecast Podcast, live-streamed from the ‘Industry in Focus’ Pavilion at UKREiiF 2024, our panel of experts: Nicholas Boys Smith, Tim Heatley, Dan Swords and Ghislaine Halpenny, discuss the future of housing and placemaking. In this engaging and informal session, our panelists explore ‘Shaping Our Places in the...

Karolina Grebowiec-Hall is Planning Decisions Manager at Enfield Council and started the 'Pinch yourself You're a Planner Podcast' in response to her feeling that the planning profession hasn’t been getting the admiration it deserves.  In her words "Planners are a passionate bunch.  We need opportunities to take back the conversation, define by ourselves who we are and reclaim...

Mete Coban’s passion for giving young people a voice stems from his own experiences growing up in Hackney. Listen to this episode to hear about his inspiring journey; born in an estate in Hackney, and now Cabinet Member for Energy, Waste, Transport and Public Realm.  He was the youngest ever elected Councillor in the London borough of Hackney, he has been implementing the Climate Emergency Plan in...

Join us for this collaborative episode between Urban Forecast and the 1:100 Podcast. For those who haven’t heard of the 1:100 Architecture Podcast, it is a transformative platform uniting architects and creatives worldwide. Through raw and relatable personal experiences as 7 women of colour, they ignite an ethical design approach while expanding opportunities for design enthusiasts everywhere. The...

Join us in this episode where Nicholas Boys Smith, the Chair of the Government’s Office for Place and Founder of Create Streets, sets out his vision for how we tackle the two fundamental challenges that have changed the direction of planning policy, as well as his career: It matters that we don’t have enough homes It matters what people like when it comes to the places that we create A drive throu...

Welcome to this week's episode of our podcast, where we're joined by Danny Thorpe, former Leader of Greenwich Council whose passion for transforming places was shaped by his upbringing in the Ferrier Estate in Greenwich. In this episode, Danny takes us through his route into politics where his passion for social justice and community welfare saw him chosen for the role of Cabinet Member...

In the latest episode of the Urban Forecast, Ben Cross, Development Director at General Projects, shares his transformative journey from The North to the architecture scene in London. After a decade in renowned practices, Ben pivoted to development, realising the innate synergy between creative thinking and solving large-scale, complex problems. At General Projects, he uses his architectural backg...

In the latest episode of the Urban Forecast podcast, Krupa Sheth, the youngest councillor ever elected in Brent, takes us on a compelling journey from her unexpected entry into politics whilst still at University, to the transformation of the Borough of Brent during her time in Local Government. Reflecting on the constant concerns of the Brent community, including clean environments, education, an...

In this captivating interview, we sit down with Matt Griffiths-Rimmer, the Director of Communications and Impact at Hadley Property Group, to explore his unique journey from being a musician in his twenties and thirties to his role working at Hadley Properties focusing on engaging with Communities and Businesses to re-imagine how Placemaking can be undertaken in Regeneration Projects. Matt's...

In this episode of Urban Forecast, we delve into the dynamic intersection of artificial intelligence and architecture with guest Allister Lewis. A former architect turned AI enthusiast, Allister shares insights into the evolving landscape of AI tools within the construction industry. The conversation explores: The likely significant impact of AI on the architecture and construction industries, par...

How can we design and build cities that will design a fairer future : Panel debate recorded at the Labour Party Conference 2023 with Cllr Bella Sankey, Cllr Kieron Williams, Marvin Rees, Cllr Krupa Sheth, Cllr Mete Coban and Jon Ackroyd. Welcome to a very special episode of the Urban Forecast Podcast! Recorded at our exclusive Breakfast Club Briefing, this episode features an impressive lineup of...

In this episode of the Urban Forecast Podcast, we sat down with Andrew Teacher, founder of Blackstock Consulting and currently the Managing Director for real estate in ESG at Montfort, whose life story is a testament to the pursuit of creativity and resilience. We begin by revisiting Andrew's school days, where he and his friends ventured into the world of publishing, creating a magazine prov...

In this episode of the Urban Forecast Podcast,  we delve into the dynamic landscape of the macro economy behind the UK housing market and its impact on the future of cities. In a post-pandemic world, the economy has seen a seismic shift, influenced by unprecedented government interventions and unique inflationary pressures. Join us as we explore what has led to the economic position we are in toda...

Tenant demand is at an all-time high in the UK, and this is driving the rapid growth of the Built-to Rent Sector. On this episode, we sat down with Polly Simpson, Head of Multifamily Development at Savills London, who has been fully immersed in this emerging sector since its inception ten years ago. We discuss the underlying market forces that are driving the growth of the sector, what is required...

Join Jason Boyle, an architect with over 23 years of experience at Seller Limited and a seasoned professional in the nuclear industry, as he takes you on a journey through the world of architecture. Get ready to dive deep into the human side of the profession, as Jason fearlessly addresses the tough issues that architects grapple with every day – from burnout and undervaluation to the challenges o...

In this episode of the Urban Forecast Podcast, we deep dive into the co-living sector with Paul Wellman and James Hanmer, both experts in this brand-new, but rapidly expanding sector. We explore how big the demand for the product is, the challenges that exist for those delivering and funding it, and the different types of products that are emerging to meet this demand.

Get ready for an exhilarating episode, where we go behind the scenes of UKREiiF, the UK’S fastest-growing and most disruptive property sector event. We sat down with Matt Christie, Director External Relations and Content at UKREiiF, to discuss the layers of strategies aimed at crafting a program of activities that drive the success of UKREiiF. We delve into how they’ve made UKREiiF more accessible...

In the latest episode of Urban Forecast, Ashley Perry, Investment Director at Apache Capital, joins us. We delve into many topics, from insights gained at a ULI UK event to the broad spectrum of build-to-rent operators and their strategic development processes. We examine the transformation of regional cities and unused sites into thriving communities, discuss the rental market dynamics in light o...

In the latest episode of Urban Forecast, we were joined by Jonathan Director of Inward Investment & Higher Education Academic Relationships at London Borough of Waltham Forest. In this episode, we cover Jonathan’s background working within a number of the former New Towns, and focus on the work Jonathan is currently engaged in; rapidly transforming the vibrant borough of Waltham Forest. In thi...

In an emergency, unscheduled episode, we sat down with Peter George on the Urban Forecast Podcast to discuss the state of the industry, and what he recommends that RIBA do to attempt to reverse the decline. Peter is Strategic Director of Economy and Sustainability at London Borough of Ealing and also shares his vision for the many departments in the borough that report to him. In this episode, Pet...