Listen to the full episode on YouTube here

Paul is joined by Jonny Britton, CEO of Landtech, to explore the challenges and innovations in the property development industry. From the origins of Landtech to the future of AI in property tech, this episode explores the evolving landscape of land acquisition, planning, and development. Discover how technology is reshaping the industry and why collaboration might be the key to solving the housing crisis.

Sponsored by LandTech: Source faster. Plan faster. Work faster. LandTech provides software to streamline the property development process and get the right deals done.

Claim your free trial of LandInsight: https://land.tech/ipd-free-trial 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• LandTech's journey began with a desire to make land information more accessible, evolving from a self-build focus to a comprehensive tool for developers of all sizes.
• The planning system's inefficiencies and political nature often hinder development, highlighting the need for more stable, long-term housing policies.
• Permitted Development rights, while offering some benefits, can lead to low quality housing solutions and don't always create the best living environments.
• The misconception about greenbelt land and the challenges of brownfield development prove that we need to develop better public understanding of the development process.
• Financial viability is a crucial factor in development that is often misunderstood, with many failing to grasp the risks and challenges that developers face.
• LandTech is expanding its services to include development appraisal tools and funding assistance, aiming to streamline the entire development process.
• The integration of AI and large language models in property tech could revolutionise how data is interpreted and used in the development industry.
• Collaboration between developers, local communities, and policymakers is essential for creating better housing solutions and addressing the housing crisis effectively.

BEST MOMENTS

"The opaque nature of land and planning, you know has kind of led to it being so cut throat and I think that hasn't helped developers at all because the worst stories are the ones that get out there."

"Personally, I don't like a lot of it. I think very often you end up just polishing turds, making it easier to just convert old buildings that might not be that attractive."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnybritton

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/?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Egoogle%2Ecom%2F&originalSubdomain=uk

Millbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk