S4 Ep30: Simon Ricketts and Nick Dines discuss the Government and GLA 'Homes for London' proposals
The UK’s #1 ranked panning lawyer, Simon Ricketts, joins the podcast to discuss the Government’s package of support for housebuilding in London.
In the latest episode of Concilio’s Better Places Podcast we were joined by the UK’s #1 ranked Planning Lawyer, Simon Ricketts, to discuss the Government and Sadiq Khan’s announcement of 23rd October on a series of measures that can support housebuilding in London.
The housing crisis in London is real, with Molior reporting that private construction starts totalled just 3,248 homes in the first three quarters of 2025 and likely 5,000 for the year. One in six construction projects have halted whilst there were only 5,933 new home sales over Q1 to Q3.
Alongside this, Build-to-Rent starts are drying up, with Molior predicting that BTR completions are set to disappear after 2027.
The human impact of this is stark. More than 130,000 households are living in temporary accommodation in London and the cost of this has led to a £740m black hole for local authorities.
Concilio’s MD Nick Dines and Simon look at the Government’s proposed reforms:
Time-limited planning route that enables developers to secure planning permission for schemes on private land that provides at least 20% affordable without requiring an upfront viability assessment. This will qualify for Fast Track and be eligible for grant.
Temporary relief from the Community Infrastructure Levy, covering 50% of the borough CIL charge for schemes delivering at least 20% affordable.
Adjusting London Plan design guidance on dual aspect requirements, dwellings per core and cycle storage provision.
Enhanced Mayoral planning powers, giving the Mayor the authority over 50 unit schemes, the ability to call in 1,000 sqm Green Belt and MOL and allow written rep call ins.
An initial £322m allocation to establish a City Hall Developer Investment Fund
Simon explains his understanding on the timings involved and looks at four different scenarios for developers:
Existing planning permission that is unimplemented or is a phased consent
Application approved by Committee yet does not have the Section 106 signed
An application that has been submitted but has not been determined
An application not yet submitted
The podcast is a fascinating, must-listen episode if you want to understand how significant the changes coming to planning in London are.
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S4 Ep29: Concilio x JL Partners: How Reform Can Win a Majority in 2029
In the latest episode of Concilio’s Better Places Podcast, we sat down with James Johnson, Founding Partner of JL Partners, to explore how Reform can win a majority in 2029.
James previously served as the Senior Opinion Research and Strategy Advisor to Prime Minister Theresa May. JL Partners are one of the UK's most accurate pollsters (and one of the very few to project a win for Donald Trump in the 2024 US election).
James delves into the explosive rise of Reform UK, sharing Friderichs Advisory Partners and JL Partners latest in-depth polling and ground-level voter analysis data that reveals why Reform is the current polling frontrunner. Our discussion explores the real reasons for Reform’s success and the unprecendented drop in support behind the Labour government and the Conservative Party.
We explore:
The Winter Fuel Allowance Effect: Why a year-old policy U-turn is still the most-mentioned reason for Labour's decline.
The Reform Voter Profile: The key motivations of the "Pessimistic Patriots," and why their concerns are pragmatic issues like public services and housing—not the fringe right agendas that dominate online discourse.
The Path to Power: The strategic roadmap showing how Reform's current appeal is perfectly aligned with the First Past the Post system to deliver a massive seat dividend and a potential majority.
The Competence Trap: Why, in 2025, voters prioritize a party that shares their values and promises to get things done over one that simply projects a traditional image of competence.
This episode is an essential listen for anyone seeking a unfashionable take on the seismic shifts shaping British politics and the true forces driving Reform UK's ascent up the polls and potentially, into power.
And stay tuned! Next week, we will release the second edition of our Inside Reform report series, exploring Reform’s expanding footprint in local government. The report will highlight early moves by councils under their control, as well as controversial policy calls from mayoral leaders, and shine a light on the party's gains across the country in the past month's by-elections.
Join our mailing list now to receive our next report direct to your inbox.
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S4 Ep28: Making London Fun Again
In Our Public Spaces, High Streets & the Experience Economy
At this year’s Labour Party Conference, one of the key themes was the urgent need to build more homes and restore confidence in the market. But as our panel discussed, London’s future isn’t just about housing numbers - it’s also about placemaking, culture, and the experience economy.
Hosted by Concilio’s Yiannis Sophocleous and Siddo Dwyer, we asked: How do we Make London Fun Again?
Our brilliant panel:
Cllr Geoff Barraclough - Cabinet Member for Planning & Economic Development, Westminster City Council
Cllr Portia Mwangangye - Cabinet Member for Leisure, Parks & Young People, Southwark Council
Antonia Stratford - Head of Public Affairs, Heart of London Business Alliance
Graeme Craig - Chief Executive, Places for London
Key takeaways:
London’s diversity is its greatest strength - celebrate and protect it.
Housing and community building are investments in London’s and the UK’s future.
Young people and diverse communities must be central to consultations and policy.
The West End’s experience economy is pivotal to London’s global standing - business, culture, and government need to work hand-in-hand to keep it competitive.
Don’t miss this conversation – listen now!
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S4 Ep27: Mete Coban MBE on a greener London
London’s Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Mete Coban MBE joins Concilio’s Account Director Siddo Dwyer to discuss the future of a greener London.
In the latest episode of Concilio’s Better Places podcast, Account Director Siddo Dwyer sits down with Mete Coban MBE, London’s Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy.
From growing up in a council flat in Hackney to shaping London’s city-wide response to the climate crisis, Mete brings both lived experience and bold vision to one of the capital’s most urgent challenges. Previously Hackney’s youngest ever councillor and a trailblazing Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, he now leads City Hall’s work to clean up London’s air and rivers, decarbonise its buildings, and deliver a just transition to net zero.
The conversation explores what it means to deliver climate action at the scale of a global city while keeping communities, fairness, and placemaking at the heart of that mission. We discuss London’s retrofit revolution, the drive to make rivers swimmable within a decade, and how planning and investment can support greener, healthier neighbourhoods. Mete also shares his thoughts on local leadership, community power, and why climate justice must be about lowering bills, creating good jobs, and improving quality of life for those who’ve historically been left behind.
This episode offers a hopeful, grounded take on what London’s green transition looks like in practice - from the policy levers at City Hall to the front doors of Londoners’ homes - and the leadership it will take to get us there.
Don’t miss this conversation – listen now!
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S4 Ep26: Airports to High Streets: shaping places with Ibrahim Ibrahim
Portland Design’s Managing Director, Ibrahim Ibrahim joins Concilio’s Account Director Siddo Dwyer to discuss human-centred placeshaping and future-ready retail.
In the latest episode of Concilio’s Better Places Podcast, Account Director Siddo Dwyer sits down with Ibrahim Ibrahim, Managing Director of Portland Design and one of the UK’s leading voices on human-centred placeshaping and future-ready retail, to explore how rapid change is rewriting the rules of design and development.
Key points discussed:
The evolution of Portland from retail design agency to global strategic consultancy
The importance of connection, experience, and belonging in successful places
Community-led placemaking and its role in shaping neighbourhoods
Reimagining passenger and visitor experiences in transport hubs
Insights from Future-Ready Retail and Ibrahim’s upcoming book
Ibrahim shares how his background in engineering and industrial design has informed his approach to placemaking, blending technical rigour with creative vision. He reflects on projects from Elephant & Castle to King’s Cross, and international airport transformations, explaining how design can drive human connection and business value. The conversation highlights why future-ready places are measured not just in footfall, but in emotional resonance, and why collaboration between designers, developers, and communities is critical to creating thriving, meaningful destinations.
Don’t miss this conversation – listen now!
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