Bill Barton is the Director at Barton Legal Ltd, and past-President of Leeds Law Society. He has specialised construction law for over 30 years, is a qualified mediator and a Fellow of the Institute of Arbitrators. He has particular expertise in drafting and negotiating specialist bespoke contracts. This programme will primarily look at JCT Practical Completion. Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.uk
Jun 18, 2025•50 min
Matt Thompson on The HandBook of Practice Management by Austin Williams
May 24, 2025•44 min
Kate Marks is the founder of EVOLUTION HR, a London-based consultancy and the author of ‘HR for Creative Companies’. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development and Specialist Practice Consultant to the RIBA. This podcast explores HR policy, shows the importance of Recognising, Rewarding and Retaining staff, examines changing legislation, and outlines some of the dos and don’ts of office management Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.uk
Apr 22, 2025•36 min
Sean Hanlon is the founding director of SPH Structures; a mixed discipline Structural Engineering design consultancy in London. He has contributed guidance on the industry’s approach on Structural Robustness and Disproportionate Collapse on behalf of The Institution of Structural Engineers He was awarded the Fellowship pf the Institution of Civil Engineers in 2024. Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.uk
Jan 22, 2025•37 min
Adam Eaton is a Chartered Engineer with the Institute of Fire Engineers and director at Trigon Fire Safety. He was previously a National Lead Director of Fire Engineering at a major engineering practice. This podcast deals with the issues of Fire Safety: performance and risk-based regulations. surface spread of flame, the update to BS9991, Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan, care homes & sprinklers, height rules of thumb, and protected shafts. Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.u...
Jan 13, 2025•53 min
Colin Blatchford-Brown is the director of Blatchford Brown Ltd and the former operational policy lead for gateways and building control at the Health and Safety Executive. He is a Registered Building Inspector (Class 3G, 3H). This podcast deals with the issue of the regulatory requirements under the Building Safety Act, specifically looking at the role of Registered Building Inspectors and Registered Building Control Approvers, as well as Building Regulations as they relate to the Building Safet...
Dec 14, 2024•46 min
Emily Rae is the Finance Partner at Fletcher Priest Architects, an RIBA Chartered Practice and one of the biggest practices in the country This podcast deals with the issue of financial management, exploring business plans, revenue projections, billing as well as National Insurance, VAT and much more besides Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.uk
Nov 29, 2024•33 min
Viva advice from various Part 3 Assessors and Examiners This podcast provides some useful insights into the reality of the viva. What are the viva assessors looking for, what do they not want to hear, what advice can they give? Contributors: John Edmonds, Nottingham University; Patricia Hickey, Bubble Architects; Lorna Davies, Kingston School of Art; Anna Hummel, Anna Hummel Architects; Stephen Brookhouse University of Westminster, and author, Part 3 Handbook. Hosted by Austin Williams www.futur...
Aug 31, 2024•24 min
In 2021, Karen was appointed the new chair of JCT and is the first woman to hold the post, and she has just taken up her second term in the role. Karen has overseen the delivery of the new editions of the JCT contracts. In this podcast we look at the principles governing the updates with specific focus on the D&B and the Minor Works Contracts. Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.uk
Aug 12, 2024•50 min
Stephen Brookhouse is Emeritus Professor and course leader of the RIBA Part 3 Diploma in Professional Practice in Architecture at the University of Westminster and the author of the Part 3 Handbook This programme is on Construction Law and Disputes exploring, amongst other things, contractual and tortious liabilities and claims. Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.uk
Aug 08, 2024•39 min
This podcast episode looks at the principles behind the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the latest version (December 2023). Our guest is Fred Quartermain, partner at Thrings Solicitors – a top 100 law firm - where he deals with planning law, environmental issues and due diligence in property transactions. Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.uk
May 22, 2024•32 min
Bernadette Barker is the principal of Barker Consultants. She is a Chartered Architect, Chartered Arbitrator and a Member of the Institution of Fire Engineers and of the Fire Protection Association. In this podcast, we run through the recent changes to the Building Regulations Approved Document B: Fire Safety Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.uk
May 22, 2024•40 min
Giacomo Calisti, is the director & co-founder of Beyond Design and oversees the practice's strategic development in the UK, Europe, and India with studios in London and Mumbai. In this podcast, we explore the tender procedure from start to finish, looking at the dos and don’ts to try to ensure a firm, accurate and reliable tender return. Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.uk
Mar 29, 2024•44 min
Tom Weld, a solicitor and director of the Construction and Engineering team at the law practice of Burges Salmon explores the role of the Accountable Person under The Building Safety Act, the nature of competence, the determination periods at the Gateway 2 and 3, and the Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023. Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.uk
Dec 21, 2023•48 min
Kayla Urbanski, a solicitor in the Construction and Engineering team at the international law firm, Burges Salmon explores the core duties of the Building Safety Act: from client and Principal Designer roles to the liabilities and penalties associated with non-compliance. She also explains some of the relevant issues relating to the Defective Premises Act, the Building Act and the Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023. Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.uk
Nov 14, 2023•50 min
Bola Oladimeji, Managing Director at Wren Managers at the WREN Insurance Association explains the role of insurance and the principles of good practice, and also explores the changing face of architectural insurance today. Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.uk
Aug 19, 2023•32 min
In this episode, we talk to three leading External Examiners to understand what they think is the best way to approach the final Part 3 viva. With Paul Crosby, Head of the Part 3 programme at the the AA; Wendy Colvin, Programme Leader in Part 3 at the University of the West of England in Bristol, and Tony Clelford, head of Design Practice and Part 3 at Greenwich University in London. Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.uk
Aug 13, 2023•41 min
Robert Klaschka, founder of EvrBilt explores the various benefits of digital technology including the techniques of monitoring the performance of design, set up, and construction; from BIM to laser surveying, from data storage to automated productivity. Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.uk
Jul 10, 2023•43 min
A conversation with three architects and academics in Lviv to talk about historical conservaton and cultural memory, regeneration and reconstruction, and the hopes for the future. Interview: Austin Williams [email protected] NB: The image is of a protected statue wrapped by the Lviv Foundation for the Preservation of Architectural and Historical Monuments.
Apr 12, 2023•1 hr 5 min
Jasmine Blood on Running a Project. Jasmine Blood is an experienced project director at Kendall Kingscott in Bristol with schemes across a variety of sectors including residential, retail and healthcare sectors. This podcast discusses the strategic and managerial issues of running a project. Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.uk
Feb 19, 2023•35 min
Geoff Wilkinson is the Managing Director of Wilkinson Construction Consultants, a a specialist building control services practice, based in London and the South East. In this programme, Geoff talks about the changing nature of the Building Safety Act, Fire Safety and risk, and key issues to be award of in forthcoming Approved Documents. Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.uk
Feb 04, 2023•40 min
Peter Rainier is the Principal Director of Planning at DMH Stallard, an award winning law firm with several offices in the south-east of England. In this programme, we’ll discuss some of the frameworks, regulations, structures and policies that determine the planning process. Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.uk
Nov 19, 2022•28 min
Craig Allison is Chair of the National Association of Planning Enforcement, and a Senior Planning Enforcement Officer at Hambleton District Council. In this programme, we’ll discuss what happens when you carry out work without necessary planning permission, or in contravention to a granted planning permission and its conditions. Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.uk
Nov 13, 2022•32 min
Paul Bussey, senior technical consultant at AHMM, an expert on Health and Safety and author of "CDM 2015: A Practical Guide for Architects and Designers”. In this programme, Paul talks about the issues essential for the changing role and duties of the Principal Designer. Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.uk
Nov 02, 2022•40 min
Lisa Raynes is the founder and CEO of Pride Road Architects, an architectural franchise business model. She is the past-Chairperson of the RIBA’s North-West Sole Practitioners Group and this podcast explores the core requirements for a business start-up, but also Lisa’s unique take on franchising architecture. Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.uk
Aug 31, 2022•33 min
Peter Ullathorne of Ullathorne Consultancy originally contributed to the first edition of the AJ Office Handbook and is now - amongst other things - an RIBA Accredited Client Advisor. This podcast explores how to better inform and direct clients on their roles and responsibilities. Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.uk
Jun 23, 2022•34 min
Tom Cronin is the practice manager of ADP architects - an AJ100 practice with multiple studios across the UK, in the EU and India. This podcast deals with the initial stages of setting up a practice – from insurance, contracts, cash flow and liabilities, but also addresses employment law from the position of employee… as well as from the employer’s perspective. Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.uk
May 13, 2022•34 min
Murray Armes on Dispute Resolution Murray Armes is an established Chartered Architect, Arbitrator and Expert Witness, and the founder and Managing Director of Sense Studio Limited. Specialising in dispute avoidance and resolution he is on the arbitration, adjudication and mediation panels of CIArb, RIBA, RICS and CEDR, among others. This programme explores how to get out of trouble, hopefully, using a variety of appropriate dispute strategies; from mediation to adjudication. Hosted by Austin Wil...
Feb 04, 2022•34 min
Hannah Boyd is a Chartered Surveyor and Associate director of Anstey Horne. In this podcast she talks about The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 and explains some of the complexities of various scenarios. She also provides useful inside knowledge of where Building Owners and construction professionals often go wrong. Hosted by Austin Williams www.futurecities.org.uk
Dec 12, 2021•37 min
As energy crises hit the headlines, environmental issues are a hot topic at the moment. Especially for consumers. The government is pushing for the removal of domestic gas boilers and their replacement with air- and ground-source heat pumps; pumps that need well-insulated homes to be effective. Meanwhile, campaign group, Insulate Britain are forcefully demonstrating that properties in the UK are not well-insulated. What’s the cost, what’s the problem we are trying to address, and what are the co...
Dec 10, 2021•1 hr 22 min