Better Places

How can one of London’s most high-profile boroughs balance the challenges of funding reform, housing delivery and economic growth while shaping a long-term vision for its communities? And what will success look like for Kensington & Chelsea by 2030?

Kanda Deputy Managing Director Simon Gartshore sits down with Cllr Elizabeth Campbell, Leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, to discuss the borough’s emerging K&C 2030 strategy and the opportunities and challenges that will shape its future.

Building on the recently launched K&C 2030 consultation, Elizabeth reflects on the progress made since becoming Leader in 2017, from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s (RBKC) response to Grenfell to the delivery of key priorities for residents. The conversation explores the challenges of local government funding reform, the proposed high-value council tax surcharge, strategic relationships with regional and national government, and the future of the Bi-Borough partnership with Westminster City Council. Cllr Campbell also discusses lessons learned from the cyber-attack that affected council services, the borough's approach to investment, regeneration and housing delivery, and the role the built environment can play in supporting local priorities. The episode concludes with a look ahead to the ambitions of K&C 2030 and the legacy she hopes to leave for the Royal Borough.

How can a council at the heart of a global city deliver growth that local people can genuinely feel, while facing one of the toughest funding settlements in London? And what does it take to lead the borough that powers 4% of the UK’s GDP?

Kanda Deputy Managing Director Simon Gartshore sits down with Cllr Paul Swaddle, Leader of Westminster City Council, to discuss the new administration’s priorities and the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of Westminster.

Reflecting on his first five months as Leader following the Conservatives’ return to power in May, Paul sets out progress against his priorities for safe streets, a clean city, value for money and thriving growth. The conversation explores the impact of the Fair Funding Review, the council’s new growth statement why growth and planning are intrinsically linked, the case for fiscal devolution, and the importance of partnerships with businesses, BIDs and the property sector. Cllr Swaddle also discusses how Westminster is supporting development and housing delivery, the proposed overnight visitor levy and the high-value council tax surcharge. The episode concludes with a more personal look at how he balances council leadership with life outside the Town Hall, and why cooking is his favourite escape.

In the latest episode of Kanda’s Better Places Podcast, Allan Andrews, Director at Kanda and co-lead of Kanda’s new Midlands practice,  is joined by Andy Williams, Director of Economy at Birmingham City Council, to discuss what the city needs to do to convert one of Europe's largest regeneration pipelines into delivery on the ground.

Three months into a newly created role, Andy sets out his thinking on inclusive growth, investor credibility and what the next 10 years might look like for Birmingham.

Their conversation explores:

Essential listening for anyone involved in regeneration, investment, planning and public affairs across Birmingham and the West Midlands.

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. 

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.

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.