Better Places

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!

In the latest episode of the Better Places Podcast, Concilio’s Sam Griffiths is joined by Professor Tony Travers of the London School of Economics, to discuss the upcoming local elections in London in May 2026.

Tony is the leading academic expert on London’s government and politics, and this fascinating discussion explores the forces changing London politically and how they are making the elections next year increasingly hard to predict.

The topics Tony and Sam cover include:

- How is the rise of so-called ‘Pro-Gaza independent’ groups in parts of East London going to challenge Labour’s traditional dominance in these areas, and what ideology drives these new campaigners?
- How will the new Green party leader Zack Polanski, and his energetic brand of ‘eco-populism’, impact the race and tempt younger votes away from Labour?
- Are the Liberal Democrats poised to make gains, not just in their traditional strongholds in South-West London but also in the centre of the city?  
- Can the Conservatives stage a fightback and take back control of their former ‘flagship’ councils like Westminster and Wandsworth?
- What will the Reform UK factor be? How will Farage’s upstart party disrupt the contest and what councils could they win?
- And finally, what does this upheaval mean for planning and development in the capital?

This is an indispensable briefing on the current state of the race to control London’s councils next year, and if you want to understand how planning and development could change in the capital as a result.

Concilio will shortly be launching the first in a series of London local election reports – giving you data-led analysis of the key council races, the latest news on campaigns and candidates, and our analysis of what it could mean for the property sector. To sign up to receive the first report when it is released, please click here or email [email protected].