Inside Property Development

Inside Property Development

Inside Property Development is a no-nonsense show that rolls up its sleeves and digs into how the world of land, planning and property development really works in practice, providing rare access industry insiders and valuable insights into real-world development deals, as well as keeping you up to date with the latest industry news. Colourful and at times controversial, the show focuses on how to do development the right way and aims to inspire and empower developers of all levels, as well as other professionals in the both the private and public sectors, to work together to build more and better homes that we can all be proud of. Connect with us on our socials for more educational content to help you achieve success in development. Millbank Land Academy Website: www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk Millbank Group Website: www.millbankgroup.co.uk Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs Connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/paul.higgs.50 Join our community on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MillbankLandAcademy See all episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@millbanklandacademy1266

Episodes

Small Sites, Big Ideas: The Truth About Developers & Good Design with Adam Dainow

October 28, 2025 • 59 mins
In this episode Paul speaks with Adam Dainow, Co-Founder of Caswell&Dainow, to unpack the realities of small-site development, the challenges of working with local authorities, and why good design is central to great places. Adam & Paul discuss the public misconceptions about development, the truth behind “garden grabbing”, and how collaboration between architects, developers and planners can transform even the smallest site into ...
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40 Years, Zero Refusals: The 100% Planning Approval Blueprint

October 21, 2025 • 16 mins
In this episode, Paul reveals the disciplined approach that has enabled him to maintain a flawless 40-year record of securing planning approvals. Drawing on decades of experience, Paul explains the strategies developers can use to strengthen their own applications, avoid common pitfalls, and navigate complex planning regulations with confidence. KEY TAKEAWAYS If at first you do not succeed, appeal. Paul has done this many t...
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Inside the Vision: Paul Higgs Redefining Property as the Hippie Developer

October 14, 2025 • 56 mins
In this episode, Paul looks back on his remarkable journey through the world of property development. From his humble beginnings as a labourer on construction sites to becoming a successful developer, Paul shares his valuable experience. Paul opens up about the challenges currently facing the property industry, the growing importance of sustainable development, and why he proudly describes himself as a “hippie property developer.”...
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Land, Planning, and Viability: The Hidden Challenges of Building Homes with Michael Keaveny Part 2

October 7, 2025 • 66 mins
Are modern methods of construction really the answer to the UK’s housing crisis, or are there deeper challenges holding back development? Michael Keaveny, Director of Land and Development at Grainger PLC, to further discuss the realities of property development in the UK. They discuss why innovation alone isn’t enough, how regulations like Gateway 2 impact viability, and what’s really needed to deliver more affordable housing. Thi...
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Land, Planning, and Viability: The Hidden Challenges of Building Homes with Michael Keaveny

September 30, 2025 • 73 mins
DESCRIPTION In this episode, Paul is joined by Michael Keaveny, Director of Land and Development at Grainger PLC, whose career spans decades in the property development sector, from hands-on project management to leading major urban regeneration projects.  Together, they discuss the realities facing today’s property developers, including exploring why SME developers are disappearing, the mounting challenges of viability, and the ...
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Maximizing Value in Land, Planning, and Design Off-Market Deals and £1 Options

September 23, 2025 • 19 mins
DESCRIPTION Are you ready to unlock the real secrets of successful property development? In this episode, Paul draws on his 40+ years of experience to reveal why the smartest developers focus on planning, design, and off-market deals to maximize value and minimize risk.  This episode includes practical strategies, insider tips, and the mindset you need to thrive in today’s property market.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Developers need to ...
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Can Property Development Serve Both Communities and Investors?

September 16, 2025 • 80 mins
In this episode, Paul & David Van Der Lande delve into the complexities of compulsory purchase orders (CPO) and development viability, featuring insights from David, a compulsory purchase and viability expert. They discuss the historical context of CPOs, their application in urban regeneration, and the challenges faced by local authorities in utilising these powers effectively. KEY TAKEAWAYS Understanding Compulsory Purcha...
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Why Our Planning System Is Broken

September 9, 2025 • 105 mins
In this episode, Paul sits down with leading industry expert Esther Kurland to explore the complexities of property development, planning policies, and the challenges faced by local authorities in delivering quality housing. They discuss how design standards have evolved, the influence of government policies such as CABE and the London Plan, and the ongoing struggle between private development and the public good. KEY TAKEAWA...
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The Housing Crisis in Britain: Why It’s Getting Worse

September 2, 2025 • 88 mins
Britain has been facing a housing shortage for decades, and the promises of 300,000 new homes a year remain unfulfilled. In this episode, Paul & Lewis Herbert explore why affordable housing is disappearing, how policy changes and planning hurdles have hurt small developers, and what it means for families struggling to buy or rent. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Housing Shortage Crisis: Britain has long failed to meet housing demands, with ...
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Avoid This Property Development Mistake and Build a Future That Lasts

August 26, 2025 • 23 mins
In this episode Paul talks through the significant barriers faced by house building developers, emphasising the critical issues of land availability, planning complexities, and the current skills shortage in the construction industry, Paul shares insights on the importance of understanding the development process and not overly relying on consultants. KEY TAKEAWAYS Land and Planning Challenges: The primary barriers to growt...
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The Future of Housing: Challenges & Solutions for Small Developers

August 22, 2025 • 65 mins
In this episode, Paul sits down with property developers Phill Williams and James Emmons  to discuss the issues that are preventing SMEs from building new homes in the UK. Including some of the things that can be done to mitigate the risks that are making this problem worse. Paul also shares the details of a new piece of software he is creating to help developers very quickly identify whether a site is financially viable or not. ...
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Conquering Modern Design, Planning, and Urban Challenges with Esther Kurland part 1

August 22, 2025 • 57 mins
For this episode, Paul is joined by veteran planner Esther Kurland, the director of UDL, who has extensive experience, including roles at London Transport, the GLA, and several other local authorities. Esther provides an in-depth look at the challenges property developers currently face, how we got here and, importantly, how these issues can be overcome. Including, multi-time cities, planning for objectives rather than by numbers ...
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SME Developers & the Grey Belt: Two Game-Changers for Solving the Housing Crisis

August 22, 2025 • 21 mins
In this episode Paul takes a deep dive into the government’s emerging “Grey Belt” concept — and whether it could be the planning breakthrough needed to ease the UK housing crisis. Drawing on over 40 years in the housebuilding industry, Paul explains what Grey Belt land is likely to mean in practice, how it differs from traditional Green Belt, and why the viability of sites will be the make-or-break factor. You’ll hear real-world e...
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The Power of £1 Option Agreements & My 100% Planning Success Strategy

August 22, 2025 • 31 mins
Paul dives into one of the most powerful tools in a developer’s toolkit – the £1 option agreement. Despite sounding too good to be true, option agreements are a tried-and-tested way of controlling land without needing huge amounts of upfront cash. Paul explains what they are, how they work, why landowners agree to them, and how they can be used to unlock serious planning gain. KEY TAKEAWAYS Option agreements give you contr...
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The Hidden Homelessness Epidemic & Modern Methods Of Construction: Dave Hughes

August 5, 2025 • 98 mins
Paul discusses with David Hughes, design director of Hughes Architects, focusing on the pressing issue of temporary housing in the UK. They delve into the staggering costs incurred by councils on temporary accommodation, particularly in London, where the financial burden has reached £114 million per month. KEY TAKEAWAYS Temporary Housing Crisis: There are currently 117,000 households in temporary accommodation in the UK, wi...
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Q&A Designing the Future

July 29, 2025 • 56 mins
In this episode Paul answers your questions about current trends in property design, the balance between creativity and functionality, and the impact of technology on future developments. Paul discusses the influence of modern methods of construction and sustainability on design aesthetics, highlighting the importance of collaboration between developers and local authorities in the planning process. KEY TAKEAWAYS Design Tren...
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How Today´s Planning System Puts All of the Cost Burdens on Developers

July 22, 2025 • 43 mins
Today, Paul is once again joined by the Director of Town Centre Regeneration Ltd, David Van Der Lande. He is a land development consultant who specialises in assessing viability and land assembly. David is also a compulsory purchase expert. This time he and Paul discuss land valuation, the impact of affordable housing requirements, access to finance, town centre regeneration and more. KEY TAKEAWAYS Paul and David share re...
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Conquering Modern Design, Planning, and Urban Challenges with Esther Kurland Part 2

July 15, 2025 • 55 mins
In this episode, Paul once again sits down to talk with veteran planner Esther Kurland, the director of UDL, who has extensive experience including roles at London Transport, the GLA, and several other local authorities. Esther and Paul once again look at the challenges property developers are currently facing and how these issues can be overcome. They discuss the use of the grey belt and why, at some stage, the green belt restric...
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The Role Compulsory Purchase Orders Will Play in UK Housing Delivery with David Van Der Lande

July 8, 2025 • 41 mins
Today, Paul is joined by the Director of Town Centre Regeneration Ltd, David Van Der Lande, a development consultant, viability, land assembly and compulsory purchase expert with many decades of experience. He and Paul discuss how CPOs have been used historically and how they are likely to be used in the future to enable local authorities to deliver on the government´s new housing targets. KEY TAKEAWAYS All local councils ...
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Rethinking Housing: Flexibility, Affordability, & Social Value with Félicie Krikler

June 17, 2025 • 60 mins
In this episode, Paul is joined by Félicie Krikler of Barr Gazeta. She and Paul discusschanging the way buildings are designed to make them easier to repurpose and the idea ofmaking tried and tested, cost effective home designs that work for most sites that are highlylikely to pass planning available for builders. The Property Development Scorecard https://millbanklandacademy.scoreapp.com KEY TAKEAWAYS Reworking our existing b...
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