Better Places

In the latest episode of the Concilio x Kanda Better Places Podcast, Nick Dines is joined by Phil Rodgers to unpack the results across Cambridge, South Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire, alongside what Local Government Reorganisation could mean for the region. 

The conversation covers: 

Labour losing overall control of Cambridge City Council 

The Green Party’s breakthrough gains in Cambridge 

The Liberal Democrats’ near-clean sweep in South Cambridgeshire 

Huntingdonshire’s next rainbow coalition  

The future structure of local government across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 

An essential listen for anyone involved in planning, development, infrastructure and public affairs across the Ox-Cam corridor.

In the latest episode of the Better Places Podcast, Concilio’s Yiannis Sophocleous is joined by Dr Julie Grail, founder of The BIDs Business and one of the UK’s leading voices on Business Improvement Districts, to discuss the proposed overnight visitor levy and what it could mean for cities across England. 
With the consultation now closed, the debate has sharpened.  
The conversation explores the bigger themes behind the policy, including: 

Whether the levy can operate as a genuine growth tool 

The importance of governance, transparency and ringfencing 

The impact on competitiveness and the visitor economy 

Lessons from international examples 

The role of BIDs in shaping and delivering place-based funding 

Looking beyond the levy itself, the discussion also reflects on the future of BIDs, the challenges facing town and city centres, and how partnership models must evolve in a changing political and economic climate. 
This is a timely and thoughtful conversation for anyone interested in place management, hospitality, planning and local government.

In the latest episode of Concilio’s Better Places podcast, Concilio’s Nick Dines and Sehj Kaur sit down with Jessica Tarlov, one of the most influential Democratic voices in the United States, for a conversation on the changing shape of left-wing politics.
The discussion centres on the rise of Zohran Mamdani, whose victory in New York has captured attention far beyond the US. From campaign energy and digital strategy to in-person organising and message discipline, Jessica explains why Mamdani broke through and why his relentless focus on affordability cut across traditional political divides. 
Drawing on her experience as a New Yorker and political insider, Jessica explores how issues such as housing costs and student debt are reshaping electoral coalitions. The conversation also looks at what UK politicians, particularly in cities like London, may be able to learn from this moment, and where direct comparisons fall short. 
The episode explores why voters are turning away from the status quo and focusing more on everyday economic issues.

Mark Thomson, Planning Director at Savills, and Rosie Ashton, Design Manager at Verv-life, join Concilio’s Siddo and Rochelle to discuss how co-living tackles the housing crisis and urban loneliness.

In the latest episode of Concilio’s Better Places podcast, Account Director Siddo Dwyer and Account Executive Rochelle Blakeman, sit down with Mark Thomson, Planning Director at Savills, and Rosie Ashton, Design Manager at Verv-life, to discuss the rise of co-living, what it is, who it’s for, and whether it can help tackle two of London’s biggest challenges: the housing crisis and urban loneliness.

Key points discussed:

·      Co-living offers a professionally managed, community-focused alternative to HMOs, with private studios, all-inclusive bills, and flexible tenures. 

·      Thoughtful design and curated events help tackle urban loneliness, creating welcoming social spaces that genuinely encourage connection. 

·      New regulations have driven better-zoned, higher-quality studio layouts, while clustered amenities and strong local partnerships enhance resident experience. 

·      Co-living provides cost certainty and potential for discounted-market options for key workers, challenging misconceptions about quality and affordability. 

·      With clearer, more flexible policy, co-living could play a bigger role in London’s housing mix and help ease pressure on traditional rental supply.

For anyone interested in housing innovation, rental market reform, community-led placemaking, or how London can diversify supply in the face of mounting pressures, this episode offers insight into the new opportunities shaping the next generation of urban living.

 Don’t miss this conversation – listen now!

In the latest episode of Concilio’s Better Places podcast, Siddo Dwyer sits down with Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of Waltham Forest Council and Deputy Chair of London Councils, holding the Housing and Regeneration brief.

From her early career as a secondary school teacher in East London to leading one of the capital’s most dynamic regeneration stories, Cllr Williams brings a rare blend of people-first instincts and ambitious, forward-looking leadership. Since taking the helm in 2021, she’s been driving an ambitious agenda: delivering high-quality homes, nurturing culture as a catalyst for growth, creative place-making strategies and shaping neighbourhoods that stay true to their identity even as they evolve.

The discussion dives into the borough’s bold decisions on developments in Blackhorse Lane and Walthamstow, the transformation of the Town Hall Quarter, Soho Theatre Walthamstow’s cultural pull, and how the Local Plan is guiding future growth. Cllr Williams also reflects on the realities behind the government reducing the affordable housing threshold from 35% to 20% and her continued commitment to delivering genuinely affordable homes, and how trust, design excellence, and community dialogue underpin every major decision.

This episode offers a grounded, optimistic look at how political leadership, strong design principles, and a culture-led approach can shape better places - and what Waltham Forest’s journey tells us about the future of regeneration in London.

Don’t miss this conversation – listen now!