We are pleased to share this month's webinar from 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, with London Borough of Barking & Dagenham. "What can we learn from Barking & Dagenham on public private partnerships?" This webinar features: Caroline Harper- Interim Managing Director at Be First Paul Nicholls- Regional Managing Director for London at Wates Danny Sutcliffe- Partner at Red Loft Toby Fox (Chair)- Founder of 1.5M New Homes We asked Caroline what was at the top of her in-tray, ...
Mar 31, 2025•46 min•Ep. 37
A TikTok viewer asked about “the deal for the people in the middle” - "The normal working people who can’t afford £1m but also working professionals not eligible for council homes?” This special report offers a response from Barking and Dagenham Council’s development company Be First, and housing consultant @Red Loft, focusing mainly on the shared ownership tenure and the need for more of it... Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes LinkedIn- @1-5m-new-homes TikTok- @1.5mnewhomes Blues...
Mar 26, 2025•10 min•Ep. 36
Be First Interim Managing Director Caroline Harper sets out the recruitment and skills requirements of the company’s new mandate, and offers some advice on career development. “If you’re enjoying a job 80% of the time, you’re in the right area," she suggests. “If you’re not, you need to change something.” Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes LinkedIn- @1-5m-new-homes TikTok- @1.5mnewhomes Bluesky- @1-5mnewhomes.bsky.social Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@1.5MNewHomes Thanks to Red...
Mar 25, 2025•15 min•Ep. 35
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham leader Dominic Twomey on how national housing policy trickles down to local people, how difficult it is to make policy accessible to parts of the community, and a revelatory first experience of consultation. “It was a very sobering lesson for me.” Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes LinkedIn- @1-5m-new-homes TikTok- @1.5mnewhomes Bluesky- @1-5mnewhomes.bsky.social YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@1.5MNewHomes Thanks to Red Loft and Wates for ...
Mar 24, 2025•17 min•Ep. 34
A special double-header on “what needs to change to deliver more homes”, with Be First head of consultancy Anna Sinnott and senior project manager Danny Taylor discussing planning and procurement reforms. Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes LinkedIn- @1-5m-new-homes TikTok- @1.5mnewhomes Bluesky- @1-5mnewhomes.bsky.social Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@1.5MNewHomes Thanks to Red Loft and Wates for sponsoring this episode. And thanks to London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and ...
Mar 20, 2025•21 min•Ep. 33
We’re at 12 Thames Road, where London Borough of Barking and Dagenham’s wholly-owned development company Be First is “taking a bit of a risk” co-locating 3,500 (100% affordable) new homes with 40,000sq m of light industrial space. Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes LinkedIn- @1-5m-new-homes TikTok- @1.5mnewhomes Bluesky- @1-5mnewhomes.bsky.social Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@1.5MNewHomes Thanks to Red Loft and Wates for sponsoring this episode. And thanks to London Borough of...
Mar 19, 2025•14 min•Ep. 32
The final part of our three-episode report on the reshaping of London Borough of Barking and Dagenham's wholly-owned development company, Be First: today we’re with Paul Nicholls, the new managing director for London at Wates, Be First’s development partner on the highly-regarded Gascoigne Estate regeneration. Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes LinkedIn- @1-5m-new-homes TikTok- @1.5mnewhomes Bluesky- @1-5mnewhomes.bsky.social YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@1.5MNewHomes Thanks t...
Mar 18, 2025•11 min•Ep. 31
Be First’s newly-appointed interim managing director Caroline Harper describes the company’s new mission: maintain delivery of 750 new homes a year, manage the Council’s £4bn asset portfolio, and reach out to prospective development partners and investors, getting at least one new site to market this summer. Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes LinkedIn- @1-5m-new-homes TikTok- @1.5mnewhomes Bluesky- @1-5mnewhomes.bsky.social YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@1.5MNewHomes Thanks to ...
Mar 17, 2025•17 min•Ep. 30
Leader of London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, councillor Dominic Twomey, describes the financial constraints forcing significant change at the Council’s wholly-owned development company Be First. Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes LinkedIn- @1-5m-new-homes TikTok- @1.5mnewhomes Bluesky- @1-5mnewhomes.bsky.social Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@1.5MNewHomes Thanks to Red Loft and Wates for sponsoring this episode. And thanks to London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and Be Fi...
Mar 13, 2025•7 min•Ep. 29
Newly-appointed interim managing director of Be First, Caroline Harper, describes Barking and Dagenham’s unique scale of opportunity to provide new homes for aspirational working Londoners. And with council-backed funding drying up, can the council-owned company find ways of making housing investment attractive to private sector capital? Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes LinkedIn- @1-5m-new-homes TikTok- @1.5mnewhomes BlueSky- @1-5mnewhomes.bsky.social Thanks to Red Loft and Wates...
Mar 12, 2025•15 min•Ep. 28
We are pleased to share the fourth webinar in our series, with Hounslow "What works and what needs to change to deliver more homes. This month featuring, the London Borough of Hounslow." We hope you enjoy and don't forget to follow along on our social media channels so that you don't miss any of our upcoming content: Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes LinkedIn- @1-5m-new-homes TikTok- @1.5mnewhomes
Mar 03, 2025•46 min•Ep. 27
Special report from 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge on community engagement. How do a Councils and Developers align and successfully engage a local community on a development of 1,000-plus new homes? Here’s a case study from London Borough of Hounslow, where Hadley Property Group is redeveloping the GSK campus into a mixed-use area including 1,000-plus new homes. Don't miss the next video in the series, a special report on community engagement: subscribe and follow our socials to ...
Feb 25, 2025•15 min•Ep. 26
London Borough of Hounslow Assistant Director for Housing Development and Supply Pratima Sood highlights the importance of supportive colleagues and mentors, both inside and outside the workplace, and she recommends a career in Public Sector housing delivery to anyone who loves a good haggle. Don't miss the next video in the series, a special report on community engagement: subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date: Bluesky- @1-5mnewhomes.bsky.social Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes Facebook- ...
Feb 20, 2025•17 min•Ep. 25
How do councils balance the need for investment and growth - not least in new homes - with local people’s resistance to change - their fear, as London Borough of Hounslow leader, councillor Shantanu Rajawat puts it, of “what will be available for me, in my time of need, if there is so much pressure on the system”? Don't miss the next video in the series, looking at careers in Public Sector housing delivery: subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date: Bluesky- @1-5mnewhomes.bsky.social I...
Feb 18, 2025•18 min•Ep. 24
Director of regeneration and growth Peter O’Brien describes how London Borough of Hounslow is responding to the Government’s plans for a modern industrial strategy and to the London Growth Plan by creating a Business Case for Growth, which supports the Council’s investment in its own capacity to deliver economic growth and new homes. “We’ve got an excellent council housing delivery team,” he says. “I’m looking to grow a team with capacity in estate regeneration, area regeneration, inward investm...
Feb 13, 2025•15 min•Ep. 23
We’re at Lampton Parkside, where Notting Hill Genesis is building 940 homes on Hounslow Council’s former civic centre site, with 40% affordable and 75 bought by the Council. Director of Growth and Regeneration Peter O’Brien praises his predecessors and for their foresight in "making the best use of the site for maximum public gain”. Follow us on: Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes LinkedIn- @1-5m-new-homes TikTok- @1.5mnewhomes Bluesky-@1-5mnewhomes.bsky.social Thanks to Red Loft a...
Feb 07, 2025•13 min•Ep. 22
A housing success story? Director for regeneration and growth Peter O’Brien kicks off our London Brough of Hounslow season, describing a borough that has over-delivered on housing targets, shrunk its TA list and still has the potential for 7,000 new homes on the Golden Mile (Great West Road) alone. Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes LinkedIn- @1-5m-new-homes TikTok- @1.5mnewhomes Bluesky- @1-5mnewhomes.bsky.social
Feb 06, 2025•8 min•Ep. 21
Retaining talent is one of the big challenges facing Councils, so we asked Ben to describe how he’s built and sustained a career in public sector housing delivery, from his early years in education and then as a sustainability consultant, through to helping Cambridge deliver its thousandth home. Don't miss the next video in the series, a special report on investment partnerships. Subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date: Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes LinkedIn- @1-5m...
Jan 29, 2025•16 min•Ep. 20
A special report from 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge on how investment partnerships have unlocked housing sites for development in Cambridge, and where else they might be appropriate. Don't miss our next episode in the series, featuring Hounslow council. Subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date: Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes LinkedIn- @1-5m-new-homes TikTok- @1.5mnewhomes
Jan 27, 2025•11 min•Ep. 21
Attracting talent is a big challenge for councils delivering new homes, so we spoke to some of that talent: Cambridge City Council Project Manager Molly Savino told us about her role in delivering 120 council homes, a community centre, library and other facilities and commercial space at East Barnwell. Don't miss the next video in the series, looking at sustaining a career in housing delivery. Subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date: Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes L...
Jan 20, 2025•10 min•Ep. 19
We talk about the local politics of delivering new homes with Cambridge City Council executive councillor for housing Gerri Bird. In particular, she describes the impact of disruption and change on tenants, and how the Council eases that process for them – and her insights as a council tenant herself. Don't miss the next video in the series, looking at starting a career in housing delivery: subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date: Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes Link...
Jan 16, 2025•14 min•Ep. 18
In this episode we visit East Barnwell, where Cambridge City Council wants to build 120 new homes, a community centre, library and other commercial units in the city’s most deprived ward. What’s stopping it? Benedict Binns, assistant director for development, lists the chief blockers to delivering more homes in Cambridge. Don't miss the next video in the series, focusing on the local politics of delivering new homes in Cambridge: subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date. Instagram- @1...
Jan 14, 2025•18 min•Ep. 17
Welcome to 1.5m New Homes, the Local Government Challenge. With Cambridge City Council celebrating its thousandth new homes, we visited one of its benchmark schemes, Ironworks, developed on the city’s old Mill Road rail depot, to understand the ingredients for its success. Don't miss the next video in the series, looking at what needs to change to build even more homes in Cambridge: subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date. Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes LinkedIn- @1...
Jan 09, 2025•11 min•Ep. 16
Welcome to 1.5m New Homes, the Local Government Challenge! Kicking off 2025 we have our interviews with Cambridge City Council. Setting the scene for visits to two housing development sites in the city, we spoke with Cambridge City Council assistant director of development Ben Binns. Join us throughout January as we learn the ingredients for successful delivery and what needs to change to build even more homes in Cambridge. Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes LinkedIn- @1-5m-new-hom...
Jan 08, 2025•3 min•Ep. 15
We are pleased to share the second webinar in our series, with Ealing Council. "What works and what needs to change to deliver more homes. This month featuring: Ealing". This webinar features: David Culliton- Pre-construction Direction at Bugler Group Joanna Hills- Assistant Director Housing Asset Management at Ealing Council Emma Osmundsen- Assistant Director Housing Regeneration at Ealing Council Danny Sutcliffe- Partner at Red Loft Tovy Fox (Chair)- Founder of 1.5M New Homes The panel discuss...
Dec 23, 2024•46 min•Ep. 14
Our visit to Ealing coincided with the Government’s announcement that it will build 32 Homebuilding Skills Hubs ( https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ne... ) So we asked Red Loft’s Danny Sutcliffe and Emma Osmundsen of Ealing Council how this might support the delivery of new homes....
Dec 19, 2024•4 min•Ep. 13
This is 1.5m New Homes, The Local Government Challenge, sponsored by Red Loft and Bugler Developments. In this episode, host Toby Fox speaks to Ealing Council Strategic Director of Economy and Sustainability Peter George about his role, his reflections on sustaining a career in public sector housing delivery, and on retaining talent in councils. Peter describes why he gets so much satisfaction from his ability to deliver change to people and places. Don't miss the next video in the series, analy...
Dec 17, 2024•17 min•Ep. 12
Welcome to 1.5m New Homes, the Local Government Challenge, sponsored by Red Loft and Bugler Developments. Attracting talent is a big challenge for councils delivering new homes, so for our regular segment on starting a career in public sector housing, we spoke to some of that talent: Ealing Council’s Alison Mayer and Esra Abd Elrahman talk us through how they developed the skills needed to move a project - regenerating the council’s own office car park at Perceval House, into potentially 150 new...
Dec 16, 2024•13 min•Ep. 11
Special report from 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge on how contractor sector vulnerability is impacting housing delivery. During our visit to Ealing this month, one factor impacting councils’ ability to deliver more homes was clear: the vulnerability of the contractor sector. So we asked Andy Bugler from Bugler Developments and Ealing Council’s Emma Osmundsen how they see the problem and the way forward. Host - Toby Fox Video Production - Sam Underwood Audio Production - Drew Toyn...
Dec 14, 2024•9 min•Ep. 10
In this episode of 1.5m New Homes, we talk about the local politics of delivering new homes with Ealing Council leader, councillor Peter Mason. Describing the challenges facing London in the 1940s (air quality, long commutes, and tall buildings rising on the skyline of an increasingly crowded city) he says: "They were dealing with some of the same challenges we have now. The answer for them was new towns.” Don't miss the next episode in the series, looking at starting a career in housing deliver...
Dec 11, 2024•20 min•Ep. 9
