Inside Property Development

Are modern methods of construction really the answer to the UK’s housing crisis, or are there deeper challenges holding back development? Michael Keaveny, Director of Land and Development at Grainger PLC, to further discuss the realities of property development in the UK. They discuss why innovation alone isn’t enough, how regulations like Gateway 2 impact viability, and what’s really needed to deliver more affordable housing. This conversation will give you a clearer understanding of the obstacles, and opportunities, that are shaping the UK´s home building industry. KEY TAKEAWAYS Innovation, including Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), is not a silver bullet. Builders are not Luddites; if a new way of doing things is better and cheaper, they adopt it. At Grainger, specialist subcontractors who have the expertise to ensure each system e.g. Foundations and cladding are installed correctly and efficiently, do the design. Making the building more practical and buildable. Most of the time building rules are made by people who have no practical experience of building homes. If you've got a lot of money going out before any starts coming in, it completely changes the numbers and makes things unviable. Banning off-plan sales to international investors makes it much harder to finance and build new homes. High construction costs and slim margins mean it’s not viable for developers to build homes that ordinary people can afford. It is far too big of a risk. Without external financial support, e.g. subsidies, affordable housing isn’t viable under current market conditions. BEST MOMENTS “If it’s more expensive than traditional building, it’s got no business case.” “Gateway two has stopped a load of schemes coming forward.” “The only way we could build much cheaper flats is if the cost of construction dropped.” “The message is getting through because development has stopped.” “People who would head towards nimbyism, what they're really voting for is really to block the next generation.” EPISODE RESOURCES Part 1 - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/land-planning-and-viability-the-hidden/id1750859336?i=1000729415826 ABOUT THE HOST  Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years' experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents. Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multi-million-pound, award-winning property development company, Millbank Group.  In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know!  Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University.   CONTACT METHOD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs Millbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

DESCRIPTION In this episode, Paul is joined by Michael Keaveny, Director of Land and Development at Grainger PLC, whose career spans decades in the property development sector, from hands-on project management to leading major urban regeneration projects.  Together, they discuss the realities facing today’s property developers, including exploring why SME developers are disappearing, the mounting challenges of viability, and the complex economics behind affordable and social housing. Mike and Paul unpack the myths around land banking, reveal the true impact of planning delays, and discuss why the current system often fails to deliver the homes the UK needs. KEY TAKEAWAYS Developers are not land banking, they are building on it as fast as the market can absorb. The biggest issue in property development is viability. Balancing land costs, construction expenses, affordable housing requirements, and market values is not possible for many sites. Delivering affordable and social housing is rarely viable without the provision of significant subsidies. Even when the land is provided for free.  High affordable housing targets can make projects unviable, especially for smaller sites. Flexibility and realistic expectations are needed to ensure developments can proceed. Developers are not the villains - most want to build quality homes and contribute to communities, but are hampered by systemic challenges. The loss of SME developers reduces industry capacity, innovation, and competition, making it harder to meet national housing targets and address the housing crisis. BEST MOMENTS “No developer, especially not large house builders, could possibly buy a site and then sit on it and hope the value of the land goes up. It’s absolute rubbish.” “Viability is the biggest issue in development. If it doesn’t stack up, it doesn’t get built…simple as that.” “If you want the housing crisis solved, you need to start listening to the people that are trying to solve it.” “Affordable housing is a land value tax. Every single affordable home has a negative land value attached to it.” ABOUT THE HOST  Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years' experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents. Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multi-million-pound, award-winning property development company, Millbank Group.  In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know!  Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University.   CONTACT METHOD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs Millbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

DESCRIPTION Are you ready to unlock the real secrets of successful property development? In this episode, Paul draws on his 40+ years of experience to reveal why the smartest developers focus on planning, design, and off-market deals to maximize value and minimize risk.  This episode includes practical strategies, insider tips, and the mindset you need to thrive in today’s property market.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Developers need to understand planning law and how various financing structures work themselves. Relying solely on consultants is not sufficient, they do not see the big picture e.g. an architect won´t know how to negotiate land deals that work. Finding off-market deals and minimizing competition is crucial. Sourcing property deals off-market helps avoid bidding wars and protects profit margins.  Clever negotiation and securing opportunities on the best possible terms e.g. Using £1 option agreements and optimizing planning and design, developers can maximize value and profit before entering the most risky and costly stage which is building. BEST MOMENTS “In property development the risk is really how much time you need to spend on things, how much money and how much expertise you need.” "All of the clever money and the value is created way before you get to the building bit." "Being overly reliant on consultants is pretty much the worst thing you could do, and probably the biggest mistake that I see people make." "Even now after 40 plus years, 90% of my deals are done on £1 option agreements, even though I could go just slapping money down, buying things if I really wanted to." "Property development is all really about finding the best, minimising competition and then adding maximum value so that you've de-risked the process before you start. That's the key." EPISODE RESOURCES £1 property option agreements - https://www.ivoox.com/the-power-of-1-option-agreements-my-audios-mp3_rf_155852828_1.html ABOUT THE HOST  Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years' experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents. Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multimillion-pound award-winning property development company, Millbank Group.  In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know!  Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University.   CONTACT METHOD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs Millbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode, Paul & David Van Der Lande delve into the complexities of compulsory purchase orders (CPO) and development viability, featuring insights from David, a compulsory purchase and viability expert. They discuss the historical context of CPOs, their application in urban regeneration, and the challenges faced by local authorities in utilising these powers effectively. KEY TAKEAWAYS Understanding Compulsory Purchase: Compulsory purchase powers are utilised by government entities to acquire land for public benefit, often for infrastructure projects or urban regeneration. Local authorities have specific powers, such as Section 226, to facilitate regeneration efforts. Viability Challenges: Viability is a critical aspect of property development, particularly as it relates to the existing use value of land. Developers must ensure that the residual land value from a proposed development exceeds the benchmark land value, which is typically based on existing use value plus a potential premium. Negotiation and Collaboration: Successful development often requires extensive negotiation with landowners and collaboration with local authorities. Developers should engage early with local authorities to align their proposals with public benefits and policy requirements. Flexibility in Planning Obligations: Planning policies often allow for flexibility in affordable housing requirements. If a development proposal is not viable under full policy compliance, developers may negotiate to reduce affordable housing quotas to make the project financially feasible. Importance of Evidence and Justification: Developers must provide robust evidence and justification for any deviations from planning policies, particularly regarding affordable housing. This includes demonstrating the financial viability of the project and undergoing scrutiny from independent experts on behalf of the local authority. BEST MOMENTS "Viability is a massive, massive, massive subject and becoming increasingly important as things become more and more unviable." - Paul "If the public benefit outweighs the importance of protecting the private rights, then essentially you've got a prima facie case." - David "It's not easy to get local authorities to do it. Unless it's pretty big and there's a pretty big benefit, they're probably not going to do it." - Paul ABOUT THE HOST  Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years' experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents. Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multimillion-pound award-winning property development company, Millbank Group. In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know!  Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University.   CONTACT METHOD LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs⁠⁠ Millbank Land Academy: ⁠⁠https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk⁠⁠ Instagram - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial⁠⁠ YouTube - ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment⁠⁠ This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠⁠ This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode, Paul sits down with leading industry expert Esther Kurland to explore the complexities of property development, planning policies, and the challenges faced by local authorities in delivering quality housing. They discuss how design standards have evolved, the influence of government policies such as CABE and the London Plan, and the ongoing struggle between private development and the public good. KEY TAKEAWAYS Good design in property development remains a driving motivation for industry leaders. CABE was a pivotal force in raising architecture and design standards. Local authorities are increasingly under-resourced, struggling with planning challenges. Although planning has shifted toward pro-development, delivery is hampered by systemic underfunding. Balancing density and quality is essential to building sustainable communities for the future. BEST MOMENTS “Promoting good design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about building communities that last.” “CABE set the stage for a whole new way of thinking about planning and architecture.” “Local authorities simply don’t have the resources to keep up with the demands of planning.” “We’ve made planning more pro-development, but without resources, the system still doesn’t work.” “Density and quality don’t have to be in conflict—done right, they can complement each other.” HOST BIO Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years of experience in land, planning, and development, with a 100% success track record in securing planning consents. Starting with his first refurb project at 17, Paul worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land at Barratt Developments, one of the UK’s largest housebuilders. In 2002, he left the corporate world to establish Millbank Group, now a multimillion-pound, award-winning property development company. In 2013, he founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first dedicated training company for property developers, sharing insider knowledge the big housebuilders would rather keep secret. Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations at London South Bank University. LinkedIn: Paul Higgs Millbank Land Academy: millbanklandacademy.co.uk Instagram: @paulhiggsofficial YouTube: Inside Property Development This podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media.

Britain has been facing a housing shortage for decades, and the promises of 300,000 new homes a year remain unfulfilled. In this episode, Paul & Lewis Herbert explore why affordable housing is disappearing, how policy changes and planning hurdles have hurt small developers, and what it means for families struggling to buy or rent. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Housing Shortage Crisis: Britain has long failed to meet housing demands, with government targets of 300,000 homes per year largely unmet. This shortage drives up prices and rents, disproportionately affecting lower-income households. Decline of Smaller Developers: Since the late 1980s, small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) builders have dwindled due to complex planning regulations and market pressures. Their decline has reduced bespoke, community-focused housing development. Impact of Policy Changes: Shifts in policy, particularly since the 1970s, have reduced the construction of social and affordable housing. The move away from council housing has increased reliance on an increasingly unaffordable private rental market. Affordability Issues: The gap between income and housing costs has widened, making homeownership harder for younger generations. Families now face much higher multiples of income to afford a home compared to previous decades. Need for a Comprehensive Strategy: Solving the crisis requires a cohesive approach that addresses housing needs at all income levels. Building more homes and ensuring affordable options are available is critical to preventing homelessness and supporting vulnerable populations. BEST MOMENTS: “We haven't been building enough homes for years and years, particularly since the mid-'70s.” “The people who suffer the most... are on the bottom rung of the ladder.” “I can't support claiming we're going to build 300,000 unless I can see where the numbers come from.” “The ability to put up buildings… with modern methods… is not the only solution.” “Housing is a bit of a tragedy and it is now swallowing a far higher percentage of a lot of people's incomes.” ABOUT THE HOST  Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years' experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents. Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multimillion-pound award-winning property development company, Millbank Group. In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know!  Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University.   CONTACT METHOD LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs⁠ Millbank Land Academy: ⁠https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk⁠ Instagram - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial⁠ YouTube - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment⁠ This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠

In this episode Paul talks through the significant barriers faced by house building developers, emphasising the critical issues of land availability, planning complexities, and the current skills shortage in the construction industry, Paul shares insights on the importance of understanding the development process and not overly relying on consultants. KEY TAKEAWAYS Land and Planning Challenges: The primary barriers to growth for house building developers are the cost and availability of viable land, along with the complexities and delays in the planning system. These issues have been persistent and are worsening, leading to a significant housing shortage. Skills Shortage in Construction: There is a critical skills shortage in the construction industry due to a lack of training and apprenticeships over the years. This has made the actual building process more challenging, compounding the difficulties faced by developers. Over-Reliance on Consultants: Many developers make the mistake of being overly reliant on their consultants, particularly architects and planning consultants. It is crucial for developers to have a comprehensive understanding of the entire development process to effectively manage and instruct their consultants. Importance of Knowledge and Experience: For smaller developers, possessing a certain level of knowledge and experience is essential to navigate the complexities of property development. This knowledge helps in managing the various consultants and ensuring that the development process runs smoothly. The Insider System: A structured approach, referred to as the Insider System, is essential for successful property development. This system emphasises the importance of instructing consultants rather than merely asking for their input, highlighting the developer's role in coordinating the entire process to achieve optimal outcomes. BEST MOMENTS "The cost and availability of viable land and the planning system are the biggest barriers to growth for house building developers." "Building in a sustainable way, and in particular, protecting and looking after nature is a massively important thing." "When developers become overly reliant on their consultants, particularly architects and planning consultants, that is usually where things can go very, very wrong." ABOUT THE HOST  Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years' experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents. Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multimillion-pound award-winning property development company, Millbank Group. In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know!  Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University.   CONTACT METHOD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs Millbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode, Paul sits down with property developers Phill Williams and James Emmons  to discuss the issues that are preventing SMEs from building new homes in the UK. Including some of the things that can be done to mitigate the risks that are making this problem worse. Paul also shares the details of a new piece of software he is creating to help developers very quickly identify whether a site is financially viable or not. KEY TAKEAWAYS The chance to develop on the grey belt is a once in a lifetime opportunity for developers. Planning in the UK is so slow and complicated that most SMEs can no longer build. They don´t have the skills to get through planning or the necessary cashflow. Dodgy lenders are actively feeding off of the complexity of the UK´s building system. Some lenders deliberately withhold funds at crucial drawdown points, knowing that the developer will no longer be able to fund the deal. The lender then takes it off of them and makes the money themselves. Often, inexperienced developers make the deal, only to realize later they missed something, and the numbers don’t stack up. Affordability is the big elephant in the room – when sales are too slow the risk for the developer becomes too high. Per sq. ft build costs has reached the point where in some parts of the country, especially where property prices are low, there is no way to make a profit. BEST MOMENTS “Someone has got to de-risk and create the opportunities for other smaller developers to build.” “Stacking the schemes correctly is absolutely crucial.” “Modular, in my opinion, isn’t going to be the main thing that solves the housing crisis.” “Modular manufacturers don’t really understand the land and planning market well enough.” “Partial funding to mitigate or share risk, I think is a way forward.” “Coming up with the scheme that's going to maximize land values is really the art of property development.” “It's really important to pay good tradespeople on time and pay them fair rates.” EPISODE RESOURCES Land Economics episode - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/land-economics- 101/id1750859336?i=1000711086989 ABOUT THE HOST  Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years & experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents. Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multimillion-pound award-winning property development company, Millbank Group. In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know!  Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University.   CONTACT METHOD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs Millbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

For this episode, Paul is joined by veteran planner Esther Kurland, the director of UDL, who has extensive experience, including roles at London Transport, the GLA, and several other local authorities. Esther provides an in-depth look at the challenges property developers currently face, how we got here and, importantly, how these issues can be overcome. Including, multi-time cities, planning for objectives rather than by numbers and communal spaces e.g. Play areas being shared by small groups of neighbours, which could change the density matrix. KEY TAKEAWAYS Esther's personal experience of living in a poorly designed housing estate sparked her interest in urban planning. Planning policy is still too complex.  Developers must now achieve multiple objectives including growth, public good, and financial viability. Some planners think they exist to facilitate growth, others think they exist to facilitate community good and each type of planner tends to only focus on that one thing. You need a certain density of people to get neighbourhood facilities to work. If you only build suburbs, you end up needing expensive transport infrastructure. If you plan for quality, you automatically produce a development that is the correct density for the site. Esther explains how that happens. Planning policies that say what they are trying to achieve e.g. Good ventilation encourages designers to innovate. Local authorities are critically under-resourced so developers must be prepared to engage more collaboratively. BEST MOMENTS “We literally took the policies out of those 20 different documents and put them in one little concertina booklet that you could put in a pocket.” "We seem to have been going through planning reform forever. It will settle down now, but we're still not there." “The planning system has become more and more housing target driven.” "I think we're building a lot of slums, basically in some of the schemes we see in the highest densities." EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.urbandesignlearning.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/esther-kurland-33017115 ABOUT THE HOST  Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years' experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents. Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multimillion-pound award-winning property development company, Millbank Group.  In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know!  Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University.   CONTACT METHOD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs Millbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode Paul takes a deep dive into the government’s emerging “Grey Belt” concept — and whether it could be the planning breakthrough needed to ease the UK housing crisis. Drawing on over 40 years in the housebuilding industry, Paul explains what Grey Belt land is likely to mean in practice, how it differs from traditional Green Belt, and why the viability of sites will be the make-or-break factor. You’ll hear real-world examples, policy insights, and practical tips on how developers — especially SMEs — can identify and approach these sites. If you’re serious about development opportunities in a changing planning landscape, this is an episode you can’t afford to miss. KEY TAKEAWAYS The “Grey Belt” will likely refer to poor-quality or previously developed Green Belt land, often with existing buildings or dereliction. Public perception of the Green Belt is often romanticised — not all of it is pristine countryside. Proximity to existing settlements and sustainable transport links will be critical for planning approval. Viability is the key issue — high affordable housing requirements could stall many potential sites. Tools like LandTech’s Land Insight can help identify likely Grey Belt opportunities. The policy could open up new sites for development — but it won’t solve the housing crisis alone. BEST MOMENTS “There shouldn’t be any sides in this — we should all be working together to create good housing and places.” “Not all Green Belt is beautiful fields and forests — some of it is derelict and crying out for redevelopment.” “The million-dollar question is: how messy does a Green Belt site need to be before it’s classed as Grey Belt?” “If viability isn’t handled sensibly, very few of these sites will ever be developed.” HOST BIO Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years' experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents. Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multimillion-pound award-winning property development company, Millbank Group. In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know!  Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University.   CONTACT METHOD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs Millbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment

Paul dives into one of the most powerful tools in a developer’s toolkit – the £1 option agreement. Despite sounding too good to be true, option agreements are a tried-and-tested way of controlling land without needing huge amounts of upfront cash. Paul explains what they are, how they work, why landowners agree to them, and how they can be used to unlock serious planning gain. KEY TAKEAWAYS Option agreements give you control, not obligation – you can secure land while buying time to add value, without committing if the market changes. Landowners benefit because developers take on the cost and risk of increasing the site’s value. The real profit comes from planning uplift – using knowledge and expertise to turn a £1m site into a £2m+ opportunity. Negotiating the right price is critical – get it wrong and the deal isn’t viable. Option agreements can also be sold or assigned on, meaning you can profit without ever completing on the land. Success depends on deep planning knowledge – anticipating objections, reverse-engineering the process, and effectively “doing the planners’ job for them.” Paul’s approach has helped him maintain a 100% planning approval track record over four decades. BEST MOMENTS “Why would I spend millions buying land if I can control it with a pound and a piece of paper?” “Option agreements buy you time – and in property development, time is everything.” “The name of the game is making the pie as big as possible, and then negotiating how it gets divided.” “I’ve never had a landowner pull out of an option agreement in 30+ years – when done right, they’re rock solid.” ABOUT THE HOST Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years’ experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents. He worked his way up from small refurb projects to becoming Head of Land at Barratt Developments before founding his own award-winning development company, Millbank Group, in 2002. In 2013, Paul launched the Millbank Land Academy – the UK’s first training company dedicated to teaching developers the strategies the big housebuilders would rather keep to themselves. He is also a founding investor in PropTech leader LandTech and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations at London South Bank University. CONTACT METHOD LinkedIn: Paul Higgs Millbank Land Academy: millbanklandacademy.co.uk Instagram: @paulhiggsofficial YouTube: Inside Property Development

Paul discusses with David Hughes, design director of Hughes Architects, focusing on the pressing issue of temporary housing in the UK. They delve into the staggering costs incurred by councils on temporary accommodation, particularly in London, where the financial burden has reached £114 million per month. KEY TAKEAWAYS Temporary Housing Crisis: There are currently 117,000 households in temporary accommodation in the UK, with London accounting for about half of that number. The financial burden on councils is significant, with London councils spending £114 million per month on temporary housing. Need for Immediate Solutions: The discussion emphasizes the urgency of addressing the temporary housing crisis, suggesting that while building permanent social housing is essential, it typically takes four to five years. In the meantime, there is a need for quicker, temporary solutions to provide better living conditions for families currently in substandard accommodations. Modular Housing Proposal: A proposed solution involves using modular housing units on unused or stalled sites, which can be set up quickly and leased to councils for temporary use. This approach aims to provide better living conditions than hotels or B&Bs while being more cost-effective than current temporary housing options. Planning Challenges: The planning process is identified as a significant barrier to delivering housing quickly. The complexity and length of the planning requirements often delay projects, and there is a call for a more flexible approach to temporary housing that recognizes the urgent need for crisis responses. Collaboration with Local Authorities: Engaging with local authorities and private landowners is crucial for the success of the modular housing initiative. The goal is to identify suitable sites and run feasibility studies to determine the viability of temporary housing solutions, ultimately aiming to alleviate the financial and social pressures of the current housing crisis. BEST MOMENTS Dave: "The ridiculous amount that councils are spending on temporary housing is a massive financial issue and a quality of life issue for people." Paul: "The problem is, planners at the moment act like they're the police, when actually it is an emergency they should be acting like the fire service." Dave: "We can get temporary planning permission for five years for temporary housing on unused sites, and the modular providers then lease those homes to the council." ABOUT THE HOST Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years' experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents. Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multimillion-pound award-winning property development company, Millbank Group. In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know! Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University. CONTACT METHOD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs Millbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode Paul answers your questions about current trends in property design, the balance between creativity and functionality, and the impact of technology on future developments. Paul discusses the influence of modern methods of construction and sustainability on design aesthetics, highlighting the importance of collaboration between developers and local authorities in the planning process. KEY TAKEAWAYS Design Trends in Property Development: Current design trends are influenced by modern methods of construction (MMC) and sustainability, leading to a mix of innovative and sometimes box-like aesthetics. Smaller developers often excel in creating well-designed properties due to their focus on niche sites. Balancing Creativity and Functionality: Successful property development starts with functionality, ensuring that buildings meet market needs and provide pleasant living conditions. While creativity is important, it must be balanced with practicality to avoid costly mistakes during construction. Collaboration with Planning Authorities: Developers should work collaboratively with local planning authorities to navigate the complexities of planning applications. Understanding the pressures faced by planners can help foster a more cooperative relationship, ultimately leading to smoother approvals. De-risking Projects: To mitigate risks in property development, it is crucial to add value before starting a project, such as securing off-market opportunities and conducting thorough research on site constraints. This proactive approach can create a buffer against unforeseen challenges. Sustainability Challenges: Building sustainably often comes with higher costs, which can be a significant barrier. As regulations evolve and sustainable practices become more mainstream, the industry may find more cost-effective methods to achieve high sustainability standards. BEST MOMENTS "One of the things I personally actually don't like about a lot of modular and MMC stuff is you can tell that that's what it is... when it's not done well does look very box-like." "The best developers, in my opinion, they are super knowledgeable, they want to do good stuff, and they are really, really into architecture and design." "Persimmon, not good. Everything that's bad about property development and house building, in my opinion." "We need to make things as easy as humanly possible for local authority planners and for planning departments." "The more knowledge, skill and expertise and the better professional team you've got, the better decisions you will be able to make." ABOUT THE HOST Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years' experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents. Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multimillion-pound award-winning property development company, Millbank Group. In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know! Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University. CONTACT METHOD LinkedIn: ⁠  / paul-higgs⁠   Millbank Land Academy: ⁠https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk⁠ Instagram - ⁠  / paulhiggsofficial⁠   YouTube - ⁠   / @insidepropertydevelopment   This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠

Today, Paul is once again joined by the Director of Town Centre Regeneration Ltd, David Van Der Lande. He is a land development consultant who specialises in assessing viability and land assembly. David is also a compulsory purchase expert. This time he and Paul discuss land valuation, the impact of affordable housing requirements, access to finance, town centre regeneration and more. KEY TAKEAWAYS Paul and David share real-world examples to demonstrate how challenging ticking the viability box has become. It is possible to overcome local authorities who use policy to slow development. But, doing so, is time-consuming. Housing associations do not want to have to manage groups of 2 or 3 affordable homes scattered throughout an area. Raising the trigger level for affordable housing to say 25 houses will result in more homes being built, overall. Most councils will not accept the need for there to be a bigger profit margin when the market is falling. Large developers have access to cheaper finance than smaller developers. This fact is not taken into account by planners. Currently, developers are shouldering all of the costs of addressing society´s problems e.g. affordable housing. BEST MOMENTS “Most policies, allow the flex in the affordable housing elements.” “The actual costs to the council increase substantially for every appeal that they lose.” “There are ways to cut through the complications.” Want to improve your ability to quickly assess the viability of a development site? go to https://bitly.com/MLASCORE. There you will find Paul´s free MLA Scorecard – a short quiz that tests your current land viability abilities and helps you to instantly improve them. Over the past 40 years, Paul hasachieved 100% planning application success. So, you are sure to learn a ton. ABOUT THE GUEST https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-van-der-lande-2b947413 Previous episode - https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/the-role-compulsory-purchase- orders-will-play-in-uk/id1750859336?i=1000716397419 ABOUT THE HOST  Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years 39; experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents. Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multimillion-pound award-winning property development company, Millbank Group. In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know!  Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University.   CONTACT METHOD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs Millbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode, Paul once again sits down to talk with veteran planner Esther Kurland, the director of UDL, who has extensive experience including roles at London Transport, the GLA, and several other local authorities. Esther and Paul once again look at the challenges property developers are currently facing and how these issues can be overcome. They discuss the use of the grey belt and why, at some stage, the green belt restrictions will need to change, how design codes work in reality and more. Esther also provides an overview of how Design Review Panels now work. KEY TAKEAWAYS It is very easy for a council that is pro-development to evolve into one that is hard to work with. The grey belt change may be trickier to take advantage of than many developers realise. It is not easy to determine what land is grey belt and what is not. There is a lot of wooliness in planning requirements which is holding development back. Design codes can be a good tool for addressing the most pressing design requirements. These are things that have been consistently asked for. Codes should be there to stop the worst from happening. Creating developments that have the ability to change ensures that they last well. You don´t have to add many requirements to get away from the Tetris-type homes – e.g., changing the way parking is handled. BEST MOMENTS “I personally think it's right that we review the way the Green Belt works and that we're using the land better,” “Having guidance is definitely useful, but having really overly fixed codes or local authorities that try to impose them too strictly, I think is potentially really dangerous .” “Design review helps identify any problems early on that could lead to delay or disappointment later on.” “Don't pay for design review if it's not meeting this code of conduct.” “Planners do tend to copy what has been done before.” EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.linkedin.com/in/esther-kurland-33017115 https://www.urbandesignlearning.com Previous episode with Esther Kurland - https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/inside- property-development-5761561/episodes/conquering-modern-design-plann-258095104 ABOUT THE HOST  Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents. Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multimillion-pound award-winning property development company, Millbank Group. In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know!  Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University.   CONTACT METHOD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs Millbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Today, Paul is joined by the Director of Town Centre Regeneration Ltd, David Van Der Lande, a development consultant, viability, land assembly and compulsory purchase expert with many decades of experience. He and Paul discuss how CPOs have been used historically and how they are likely to be used in the future to enable local authorities to deliver on the government´s new housing targets. KEY TAKEAWAYS All local councils can use compulsory purchase powers (CPOs) to deliver a public benefit. CPOs are still mainly used for road building and occasionally for regeneration or key infrastructure projects. More councils are starting to once again take advantage of Compulsory Purchase Orders. We can expect to see CPOs being used more in the near future as the government pushes local authorities to meet new housing targets. In the past, CPOs have been used to deliver large projects, e.g. town centre regeneration, a road or a power station. Potentially, developers could ask local authorities to use CPOs at a much more granular level. David explains how this might be done and the likelihood of success. You have to demonstrate that the development can actually be delivered before a council will seriously back the use of CPOs. There are rules coming down the road which might impact on capital values for certain types of land. BEST MOMENTS “Government has been caught out a few times by the cost of buying land using CPO powers. So there is motivation, shall we say, to try and curtail the amount of money that has been paid to landowners.” ABOUT THE GUEST https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-van-der-lande-2b947413 ABOUT THE HOST  Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents. Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multimillion-pound award-winning property development company, Millbank Group. In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know!  Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University.   CONTACT METHOD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs Millbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode, Paul is joined by Félicie Krikler of Barr Gazeta. She and Paul discusschanging the way buildings are designed to make them easier to repurpose and the idea ofmaking tried and tested, cost effective home designs that work for most sites that are highlylikely to pass planning available for builders. The Property Development Scorecard https://millbanklandacademy.scoreapp.com KEY TAKEAWAYS Reworking our existing buildings makes sense. Félicie provides examples thatdemonstrate what works and what doesn´t. Designing buildings in a way that makes them easy to repurpose is desirable. Repurposing is a balancing act between cost effectiveness, embodied carbon andplanning gain. Collaboration is key to repurposing. Prioritising quality of life for residents is an important component of any successfuldevelopment. Build to rent is genuinely making housing more affordable. The cost of building a 40 sq. meter property is 20% lower than for a 50 sq. meterone. Far more affordable for buyers or tenants. BEST MOMENTS“We are in a time where buildings should be viewed in a flexible way.”“We were looking at a construction system that could be accommodating for a number ofdifferent uses.”“As architects, our projects don´t end on the day of completion…our responsibility laststhroughout the whole life of the building that impacts people´s lives.”“More and more there’s a realisation of the importance of social value.” EPISODE RESOURCEShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/f%C3%A9licie-krikler-37945350https://barrgazetas.comhttps://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/good-homes-for-all-why-we-are-showcasing-20-of-the-nations-best-housing-schemes ABOUT THE HOST Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years' experiencein land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planningconsents.Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up fromlabouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, BarrattDevelopments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now amultimillion-pound award-winning property development company, Millbank Group.In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicatedto property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secretsthe big housebuilders don’t want you to know! Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTechCo, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc PropertyDevelopment at London South Bank University. CONTACT METHODLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgsMillbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.ukInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficialYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopmentThis Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

For this episode, Paul is joined by Tim Riley, director of the award-winning architecturalpractice RCKa. He believes buildings can be catalysts for social change and has experienceof building homes and facilities that genuinely have transformed people´s lives and improvedareas. You will learn how you can be involved in transforming our society by providing greathomes. The Property Development Scorecard https://millbanklandacademy.scoreapp.com KEY TAKEAWAYS Community groups tend to be focused on delivering their services, so rarely have theenergy and resources to dedicate to a building project. Consulting with the community and stakeholder groups helps you to create anappealing scheme. Only a small % of an architect´s time is spent drawing. The best architects spend alot of time liaising to get the most out of a site e.g. the structural engineer and testingthe design Fully housing policy compliant schemes rarely stack up. Leverage design review panels. They really are there to help. The later living sector is still underserved. Developing later living on peri urban areas makes sense. Communities near later living villages can also benefit from new infrastructure, shopsand facilities. Later living communities are multi-generational e.g. They have play facilities forgrandchildren. BEST MOMENTS "From the outset we decided that we were going to design an appeal ready scheme.” “As a developer, the best thing you can do is focus on good design.”“You´re delivering homes at a third of the cost land wise.” RESOURCEShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/timriley2https://rcka.co.uk ABOUT THE HOST Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years' experiencein land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planningconsents.Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up fromlabouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, BarrattDevelopments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now amultimillion-pound award-winning property development company, Millbank Group.In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicatedto property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secretsthe big housebuilders don’t want you to know! Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTechCo, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc PropertyDevelopment at London South Bank University. CONTACT METHODLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgsMillbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.ukInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficialYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopmentThis Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

If you are tired of all the noise and misinformation about land values and developmenteconomics, this episode of the Inside Property Development podcast is for you. Paul cutsthrough the confusion and gives you the real deal.  The Property Development Scorecard https://millbanklandacademy.scoreapp.com KEY TAKEAWAYS The true driver behind development is economics. Starting with being able toincentivise the landowner to sell. Now that planning takes so long, the initial profit margin has to be relatively high. Youneed a substantial margin of error built into your calculations. Prior to 1988 lots of smaller builders built a few houses and sold them. After that,planning got too complicated. The government still has not understood the underlying problems e.g. Their newlegislation targets land banking, which is not a thing. Sitting on land which hasplanning permission makes zero sense. Over the last few years, building costs have risen by 30%. The fact that this happens. BEST MOMENTS“It's not developers being greedy. That's driving this whole process. The thing that's reallydriving the whole process is existing use values and meeting and beating landowners’expectations.”“Focusing on off-market sites and adding maximum planning value is basically how you de-risk development as much as you possibly can.”“The thing that really drives the whole development industry is existing use values and beingable to incentivize landowners to sell.”“Since 1988 planning got so difficult that they've ended up having to try to buy stuff withplanning because they don't know how to do it themselves.”   ABOUT THE HOST Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years' experiencein land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planningconsents.Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up fromlabouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, BarrattDevelopments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now amultimillion-pound award-winning property development company, Millbank Group.In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicatedto property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secretsthe big housebuilders don’t want you to know! Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTechCo, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc PropertyDevelopment at London South Bank University. CONTACT METHODLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgsMillbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.ukInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficialYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopmentThis Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode, Paul once again sits down to speak to Lewis Herbert to talk about the really important issues of homelessness and the housing crisis. As well as discussing how we got here, they look at some of the potential solutions, including the use of modular housing. KEY TAKEAWAYS In the UK, 134,000 people aged 16 to 25 are homeless or at risk. There are 150,000 rough sleepers. Homeless people need somewhere secure to live, it does not have to be big. The fact that these homes are genuinely temporary means they can be compact. Compact homes can be built and connected to utilities for £100,000 and projects can be delivered in a year. Cardiff already has enough two-storey modular homes to house 300 families. Lewis shares several other examples across the UK. Travelodge´s are expensive, so modular homes don´t take long to pay forthemselves. The Property Development Scorecard https://millbanklandacademy.scoreapp.com BEST MOMENTS“I´ve got a passion for affordable housing.”“I’m a fan of modern methods of construction.”“If we’re going to get people out of hotel rooms, if we’re going to get people off the streets, compact is the way we’ve got to go.”“It´s a very happy community on what was a car park.” EPISODE RESOURCEShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/lewis-herbert-84378110 Allia Future Homes - https://futurebusinesscentre.co.uk/our-impact/future-homesCardiff – https://businessnewswales.com/residents-welcome-temporary-homes-in-modular-housing-scheme/Motels to homes - https://chesshomeless.orghttps://www.zedpods.comhttps://www.social-bite.co.ukhttps://www.fusearchitects.co.uk ABOUT THE HOST Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years' experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents.Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multimillion-pound award-winning property development company, Millbank Group.In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know! Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University. CONTACT METHODLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgsMillbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.ukInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficialYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/