Better Places

Better Places

A Kanda podcast featuring political analysis and its impact on the planning and property sector from across London and the UK.

  1. 18 Aug

    Jonathan Prynn on ‘Fleet Street North’, business leaders finding their voice and his new role at The Telegraph

    How can business leaders make themselves heard without hiding behind jargon, and how could Andy Burnham’s Prime Ministership change the way UK media operates?  Cam Meads sits down with Jonathan Prynn, former Business Editor at the London Standard, who is about to join The Telegraph’s business team as Retail Editor. Jonathan argues that chief executives should back themselves and speak in a human voice rather than retreat into jargon, acronyms and financial ratios that never truly reach audiences. He explains why developers shouldn’t fear press scrutiny but should stop dismissing local opposition as ‘a bit of noise’, why the sector needs a better word than ‘viability’, and what housebuilding can learn from the way hospitality made its case.

    Jonathan Prynn on ‘Fleet Street North’, business leaders finding their voice and his new role at The Telegraph

  2. 8 Jul

    Jelly Mould Wobble? Tom Sleigh Responds to 11th Hour Intervention

    Just when the City Plan looked set to sail through, Matthew Pennycook stepped in. Simon Gartshore sits down with Tom Sleigh, Chairman of the City of London Corporation's Planning & Transportation Committee, for his first in-depth interview on the Minister's late intervention, relations with Heritage bodies, and what it all means for investor confidence in the Square Mile.

    Jelly Mould Wobble? Tom Sleigh Responds to 11th Hour Intervention

  3. 22 May

    City Plan, Planning Reform & Culture in the Square Mile | Tom Sleigh, Chair of Planning, City of London

    In this episode recorded live at UKREiiF, Simon Gartshore, Deputy Managing Director at Kanda Consulting, sits down with Tom Sleigh, recently reelected as Chair of the City of London Corporation's Planning and Transportation Committee. Tom reflects on his first year — including a record breaking number of applications — and shares his views on the pace of national planning reform, the near-final stages of the City Plan, and the challenge of balancing growth with heritage in the Square Mile. The conversation also covers stalled development sites, the role of culture in Destination City, the arrival of AI in planning practice, and what a reduced planning committee will mean for decision-making in one of the world's most important business districts.

    City Plan, Planning Reform & Culture in the Square Mile | Tom Sleigh, Chair of Planning, City of London

  4. 14 May

    Discussing election outcomes with the Cambridge Independent's political correspondent.

    In the latest episode of the Concilio x Kanda Better Places Podcast, Nick Dines is joined by Phil Rodgers to unpack the results across Cambridge, South Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire, alongside what Local Government Reorganisation could mean for the region.  The conversation covers:  Labour losing overall control of Cambridge City Council  The Green Party’s breakthrough gains in Cambridge  The Liberal Democrats’ near-clean sweep in South Cambridgeshire  Huntingdonshire’s next rainbow coalition   The future structure of local government across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough  An essential listen for anyone involved in planning, development, infrastructure and public affairs across the Ox-Cam corridor.

    Discussing election outcomes with the Cambridge Independent's political correspondent.

  5. 27 Feb

    Visitor Levy, BIDs and Place Funding: Dr Julie Grail on What Happens Next

    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.

    Visitor Levy, BIDs and Place Funding: Dr Julie Grail on What Happens Next

  6. 3 Feb

    Jessica Tarlov on Mamdani and the Politics of Affordability

    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.

    Jessica Tarlov on Mamdani and the Politics of Affordability

  7. 02/12/2025

    How Co-living Tackles the Housing Crisis and Urban Loneliness

    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!

    How Co-living Tackles the Housing Crisis and Urban Loneliness

  8. 24/11/2025

    In conversation with Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of Waltham Forest Council and Deputy Chair of London Councils

    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 conversation with Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of Waltham Forest Council and Deputy Chair of London Councils
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4.6
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

A Kanda podcast featuring political analysis and its impact on the planning and property sector from across London and the UK.

Information

  • Creator
    Better Places
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    81
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Kanda Consulting
  • Show Website
    Better Places

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