Make Planning Make Sense

Centro Planning Consultancy

This podcast is for anyone trying to build, fund, design, approve, or understand development in the UK. Your host, Aaron Zimmerman MA MSc MRTPI, is having honest conversations with other leaders from across the built environment sector to Make Planning Make Sense. Follow for new episodes fortnightly on Thursdays! Make Planning Make Sense is presented by Centro Planning Consultancy and recorded in beautiful London, England. https://centroplan.co.uk/

  1. 9 hr ago

    S02 E17 We can do better, today (feat. Darren Rodwell)

    Our guest for this episode is Darren Rodwell, a man who needs no introduction, who you’ll recognise as the former leader of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council. Darren has a new book called ‘Building Communities One Brick and One Heart at a Time’, which is out now. I was most interested to talk with Darren about creating momentum in a planning system that is structurally indifferent to its outcome and how Darren was able to change the future for Londonders in his borough by building community support and forward momentum for the ambitious regeneration of Barking. The conversation again begs the question of whether we should have a planning system that is otherwise content to be as inert as dry clay. But more to the point, in the system that we do have, Darren shows how leadership, vision, and an incredible amount of effort can still get good things done. We’ll be back in September with our analysis of the draft London Plan and the changes it will need if it is going to succeed in its most urgent priority: delivering for Londoners. If you like today’s episode, share it with your fellow Planimals and please do follow the show! And remember, we’re ultimately here for you. Whenever you have a complex project that needs excellent planners on the team, please get in touch. Be sure to follow for new episodes fortnightly. Make Planning Make Sense is hosted by Aaron Zimmerman MRTPI, presented by Centro Planning Consultancy and recorded in beautiful London, England.

  2. 23 Jul

    S02 E16 Boundaries aren't just for site plans: Emotional intelligence in our sector (feat. Jay Marway of Pulse Consult)

    We've been longlisted in the Business category for the 2026 British Podcast Awards! We set off a year ago without one ounce of media experience to create a bit of content about why our work matters, the fact that we’re damn good at it, and how the sector can do better for the people of the UK. Being longlisted for a British Podcast Award is both humbling and affirming for a show we’re really proud to put out there for you. Thank you to our amazing team, guests, and listeners. Our guest for this episode is Jay Marway MRICS PMP, Project Manager at Pulse Consult. Jay joins us to discuss the brilliant and important topic of emotional intelligence in our sector. The conversation gives a nod to the surface level traits of politeness and temperament, and then opens up into the rich concepts of awareness, perception, trust, and boundaries. I hope you find the conversation timely, relatable, and relevant, but, of course, it is not health advice. Jay and I are practitioners in the built environment sector, not the healthcare sector. I would warmly encourage anyone seeking advice on these issues to speak with a medical professional. If you like today’s episode, share it with your fellow Planimals and please do follow the show! And remember, we’re ultimately here for you. Whenever you have a complex project that needs excellent planners on the team, please get in touch. Be sure to follow for new episodes fortnightly. Make Planning Make Sense is hosted by Aaron Zimmerman MRTPI, presented by Centro Planning Consultancy and recorded in beautiful London, England.

  3. 16 Jul ·  Bonus

    BONUS! One year on: behind the mic (feat. Centro's own Mariam Malakzi)

    Make Planning Make Sense is turning 1! Thank you, guests, listeners and team!!! 365 days, 44 expert voices, 40 episodes, 1 nod from the British Podcast Awards, and 1 community of passionate professionals - We are absolutely stunned by the warm welcome you've given to this project. As a way of saying THANK YOU to our amazing guests, listeners and team, Aaron and Mariam are taking you behind the scenes to learn the why, the how, and the metrics of this bonkers journey. If you like today’s episode, share it with your fellow Planimals and please do follow the show! And remember, we’re ultimately here for you. Whenever you have a complex project that needs excellent planners on the team, please get in touch. Be sure to follow for new episodes fortnightly. Make Planning Make Sense is hosted by Aaron Zimmerman MRTPI, presented by Centro Planning Consultancy and recorded in beautiful London, England.

  4. 9 Jul

    S02 E15 Fix the exit, fix the entry (feat. Will Powell of Downing)

    Our guest today is Will Powell, Investment Director at Downing. With incredible clarity, Will sets out the private sector’s needs with the aim of restarting housing delivery. We cover: How to catalyse home salesDe-cluttering decision takingHaving the right people in your teamReviving a culture of partnershipAnd more. Be sure to check out the podcast that Will hosts: Downing Funding Foundations (especially Episode 02). If you like today’s episode, share it with your fellow Planimals and please do follow the show! And remember, we’re ultimately here for you. Whenever you have a complex project that needs excellent planners on the team, please get in touch. Be sure to follow for new episodes fortnightly. Make Planning Make Sense is hosted by Aaron Zimmerman MRTPI, presented by Centro Planning Consultancy and recorded in beautiful London, England.

  5. 25 Jun

    S02 E14 That was gendered... (feat. Charlotte Morphet and Marina Milosev)

    Our guests for this episode are Charlotte Morphet, Programme Leader for Urban Planning at the University of the Built Environment and Marina Milosev, co-founder of Beyond the Red Line and, recently, Urban Planning Expert at the United Nations. We're also joined by Andrew Lightstone, Associate Director at Centro. If you’re listening to this podcast, you’re probably the sort who has been following the public discussion about mainstreaming sex and gender in the NPPF and planning more broadly. We dive into this topic with our sights set on the practical questions of implementation for applicants and decision takers. If you like today’s episode, share it with your fellow Planimals and please do follow the show! And remember, we’re ultimately here for you. Whenever you have a complex project that needs excellent planners on the team, please get in touch. Be sure to follow for new episodes fortnightly. Make Planning Make Sense is hosted by Aaron Zimmerman MRTPI, presented by Centro Planning Consultancy and recorded in beautiful London, England.

  6. 11 Jun

    S02 E13 A COL to Action: When LBC is OTT (feat. Helen Walker of Bowman Riley)

    Our guest this week is Helen Walker, Head of Heritage and Associate at Bowman Riley. Helen lets us in on a pleasant little heritage hack that can spare folks a bit of time, expense, and grief. Along the way, we touch on the perils of the "only Grade II" mindset and the risk of losing the living knowledge of the building crafts. Be sure to follow for new episodes fortnightly. Make Planning Make Sense is hosted by Aaron Zimmerman MRTPI, presented by Centro Planning Consultancy and recorded in beautiful London, England.

  7. 28 May

    S02 E12 Live from the London Centre - Everything but the nettle (feat. Centro's own Tarun Cheema)

    Live from the London Centre: Tarun Cheema MRTPI and Aaron Zimmerman MRTPI present the latest on planning reform...and how the devil is always in the details. We give a TLDR run-through of: The draft NPPFThe Mayor’s kickstart measures and new call-in powersThe PIA including the National Scheme of DelegationHow these reforms will play out for developers and decision making Special thanks to New London Architecture for hosting this live event and to Women in Property South East for co-sponsoring the event with Centro Planning Consultancy. Be sure to follow for new episodes fortnightly. Make Planning Make Sense is hosted by Aaron Zimmerman MRTPI, presented by Centro Planning Consultancy and recorded in beautiful London, England.

  8. 14 May

    S02 E11 REiiF WEEK (feat. Nathan Spencer, Managing Director of UKREiiF)

    Our guest this week is Nathan Spencer, Managing Director of UKREiiF. REiiF Week is upon us, and in tingling anticipation of UKREiiF , which runs 19th to the 21st of May, Nathan talks about who’s lined up to anchor the event this year and what the event means for Leeds. We also get into B2B business development in the built environment sector, the challenges the sector faces in communicating its priorities and sheer importance to the public, and the lost opportunity own goals created by the planning system. Just to say, Centro’s own Managing Director, Luke Raistrick, and Director of Operations and Partnerships, Reece Raymond, will be at UKREiiF. Reach out to Reece if there’s an opportunity to connect in Leeds: Reece@centroplan.co.uk Be sure to follow for new episodes fortnightly. Make Planning Make Sense is hosted by Aaron Zimmerman MRTPI, presented by Centro Planning Consultancy and recorded in beautiful London, England.

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This podcast is for anyone trying to build, fund, design, approve, or understand development in the UK. Your host, Aaron Zimmerman MA MSc MRTPI, is having honest conversations with other leaders from across the built environment sector to Make Planning Make Sense. Follow for new episodes fortnightly on Thursdays! Make Planning Make Sense is presented by Centro Planning Consultancy and recorded in beautiful London, England. https://centroplan.co.uk/

Information

  • Creator
    Centro Planning Consultancy
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Centro Planning Consultancy
  • Show Website
    Make Planning Make Sense