We are pleased to share this month's webinar from 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, with Stevenage Borough Council "Skills, SMEs and Supply Chains: What Councils Can Do to Unlock Housing Delivery"

This webinar features:

Ash Ahmed - Director of Land, Development & Neighbourhood Regeneration at Stevenage Borough Council

Jeremy Graham - Chief Operating Officer at Bugler Developments

Daryl Jedowski - Co-operative Neighbourhoods Programme Manager at Stevenage Borough Council

Sam Phelps - Senior Development Consultant at Red Loft

Darryl Stewart - Head of Commercial Services at NHBC

Toby Fox (Chair) - Founder of 1.5M New Homes

We hope you enjoy and don't forget to follow along on our social media channels and stay up to date with all our latest content:

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LinkedIn- / 1-5m-new-homes

TikTok- / 1.5mnewhomes

What’s it really like to build a career in public-sector housing delivery? In this episode, Simon Nuttall reflects on starting out in local government, being trusted early, and developing a career that spans development, procurement, finance, negotiation and delivery. It’s a candid look at why public-sector housing can be a challenging, varied and deeply rewarding career — especially for people who want responsibility, learning and real-world impact. Part of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge.

In this episode, we focus on the skills challenge facing housing delivery. Andy Bugler (Bugler Developments), Ash Ahmed (Stevenage Borough Council) and Samantha Phelps (Red Loft) discuss how skills shortages, training pathways, industry structure and council capacity are shaping what can realistically be delivered — and why this may be one of the biggest risks to meeting housing ambitions over the medium term. Part of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge.

In this episode, Ash Ahmed reflects on Stevenage’s experience as part of the post-war New Towns programme — and what that experience can teach today’s new towns programme. The conversation explores: • Realistic timescales for new towns • Delivery models and leadership • Land control and sequencing • Lessons that still apply decades later Part of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge.

In this episode, we visit a supported housing scheme in Stevenage with Ash Ahmed, Chief Land & Development Officer at Stevenage Borough Council. Ash explains why supported housing and older persons’ accommodation are central to the wider housing system — freeing up family homes, preventing homelessness and supporting local SMEs and specialist contractors who play a key role in delivering complex schemes. Part of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge.

This episode explores the difference between transactional delivery and active partnership on a live housing scheme in Stevenage. Simon Nuttall (Stevenage Borough Council) and Jeremy Graham (Bugler Developments) discuss how councils and contractors work together when schemes encounter uncertainty, regulatory friction or design challenge — and why hands-on partnership can make the difference between progress and delay. Part of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge.

In this episode of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, we visit The Oval estate in Stevenage with Simon Nuttall, Head of Land & Development at Stevenage Borough Council. Simon explains how the council is leading a phased programme of estate regeneration — managing risk, addressing viability challenges and coordinating delivery over time, supported by Homes England funding. The episode also offers practical insight for councils considering Homes England funding, including the importance of early engagement, realistic phasing and aligning funding programmes to delivery challenges on complex estate regeneration schemes.

In this episode, we visit Kenilworth Close in Stevenage with Ash Ahmed, Chief Land & Development Officer at Stevenage Borough Council. Ash explains how the council has approached the site not as a passive land seller, but as an active, informed landowner — de-risking the site, re-procuring delivery, and reinvesting value back into affordable housing, sustainability and local services. Part of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge.

In this episode, we visit Brodie Court in Stevenage — an independent living scheme designed to improve quality of life for older residents while also supporting the wider housing system. Cllr Jackie Hollywell, Ash Ahmed and resident Beth Mead explain why housing for older people is critical to dignity, independence and wellbeing — and to releasing family homes so younger people can move on and up the housing ladder. Part of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge.

In this episode, Tom Pike (Chief Executive) and Cllr Richard Henry (Leader) reflect on why Stevenage has taken a long-term, joined-up approach to renewal. They discuss how housing delivery, cultural investment and job creation are interlinked — and why councils need the skills, confidence and continuity to plan across these areas if regeneration is going to stick. Part of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge