Inside Property Development

By Paul HiggsBusiness Entrepreneurship Education Investing Courses

Inside Property Development episodes

November 12, 2025The Stark Realities of Building Homes In The UK With Philip Barnes
Today, Paul sits down with Philip Barnes, former UK group land and planning director at Barrett who now works part time for Savills. Together they explore the challenges and opportunities facing today’s property developers. Including discussing the stark differences between SMEs and major housebuilders, the impacts of planning reforms, environmental regulations, and financial hurdles.
They share what is really shaping the future of the UK housebuilding industry. Whether you’re an industry insider or curious about how policy and economics influence the building of new homes, this candid and sometimes alarming episode is for you.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
The economies of scale gulf between large scale and SME housebuilders is growing, making it even harder for SMEs to survive.

Developers are not enjoying large margins. That is a misconception. When margins are tight it doesn´t take much for a company to go bankrupt.

The barriers to entry are growing bigger making it really difficult for new

housebuilding firms to get established and make a profit.

Build costs are increasing faster than house prices.

Increasingly banks are pulling the plug on small developers. Some are actively lending on questionable projects knowing that the likelihood of it failing is high.

The UK housebuilding industry does not operate in a collaborative or cartel-like environment. It is highly cutthroat and driven by intense growth pressures, so expecting and basing scheme delivery on close collaboration is unrealistic.

If you're working on a set margin, and something like nitrate neutrality is an issue, that can delay you for a couple of years, long enough to make many firms go bankrupt.

BEST MOMENTS
"If you're a little guy, you can't afford to be spending fortunes on potential deals that don't go anywhere."
"Lots of abortive costs is a real operational issue in the planning system."
“Developers big and small are not building.”
"You can only get kicked in the nuts for so long before you start not liking it anymore."
"The Nature Restoration Levy and Environmental Development Plans, if done well, will massively help... My worry is that might not happen for two or three years."

ABOUT THE GUEST
https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-barnes-70a44119

ABOUT THE HOST
Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents.
Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder,
Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multimillion-pound award-winning property development company, Millbank Group.
In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know!
Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University.

CONTACT METHOD
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs
Millbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
54 min
November 05, 2025Collaborating to Solve the Housing Crisis
Can collaboration really solve the housing crisis? seasoned property developer and industry expert Paul Higgs explores the challenges facing SME developers, housebuilders, and planners — and why the confrontational nature of the industry must change if we’re to create better homes and more sustainable communities.
With over 40 years’ experience in land, planning, and development, Paul shares candid insights into the complex planning system, the decline of SME developers, and the urgent need for joined-up thinking across all sectors of the housing industry.
If you’re interested in understanding what’s really holding back development — and how collaboration can unlock new opportunities — this episode is a must-listen.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
The housing and affordability crisis can’t be solved in isolation — collaboration is essential.

The property development industry has been too confrontational; cooperation between stakeholders is crucial.

SME developers and smaller housebuilders are declining, partly due to planning complexity.

The Millbank Land Academy Scorecard helps developers assess and improve their processes.

Sustainable housing requires developers, planners, and policymakers to work together rather than in opposition.

BEST MOMENTS
“We all need to understand property development from every angle — not just our own.”
“The industry has become confrontational, and that’s stopping us from creating the homes people need.”
“If SME developers can’t survive the planning system, we’ll lose a huge part of the housing supply chain.”
“The only way we’ll solve the housing crisis is by working together.”

ABOUT THE HOST
Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development
Surveyor with 40+ years' experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents.
Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming
Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multi-million-pound, award-winning property development company, Millbank Group.
In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the
UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach
established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know! Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University.

CONTACT METHOD
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs
Millbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive
Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
8 min
October 31, 2025Small Sites, Big Ideas: The Truth About Developers & Good Design with Adam Dainow
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 something exceptional

KEY TAKEWAYS
Developers aren’t the bad guys. They’re the ones taking on risk to deliver housing while navigating complex planning systems and public criticism.
“Garden grabbing” is a lazy term. Building in large, underused gardens can be an intelligent and sustainable way to add housing where people actually want to live.

Honesty matters with landowners. Being transparent builds long-term trust, even when expectations around land values are unrealistic.
Finding land is about process and persistence. From direct letters to research and relationship-building, there’s no secret shortcut — only consistency.
Social media works. Instagram, with its visual storytelling, has become Caswell&Dainow most powerful communication and brand-building platform.

BEST MOMENTS

“Developers are not the baddies. We’re the ones putting our houses — and often our homes — on the line to build for others.”
“Most architects want to be developers, and most developers want to be architects. The best projects happen where the two meet.”
“You can’t build on any old garden. If it’s the right size, in the right area, it can be the perfect place for a new home.”
“Being honest with landowners is key. You can’t fake authenticity — people sense it immediately.”
“Good design is not a luxury; it’s the foundation of successful, sustainable development.”

ADAM DAINOW INFORMATION
https://www.caswellanddainow.com/
https://www.instagram.com/caswellanddainow
Milbank Land Academy Scorecard – bit.ly/LAND-SCORE
Bricks & Mortar (The Times) feature: Garden Grab – The Planning Overhaul That Offers Homeowners a Chance to Cash In
Panorama Documentary – The Truth About Property Development (BBC)

ABOUT THE HOST
Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years' experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents.
Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multi-million-pound, award-winning property development company, Millbank Group.
In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know!
Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University.

CONTACT METHOD
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs
Millbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
1 hr 2 min
October 21, 202540 Years, Zero Refusals: The 100% Planning Approval Blueprint
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 times and has never lost an appeal.

Take your time when putting together your plans. You need to do as much as you can to avoid getting a refusal on a site. Sometimes this can blight a site.

Educate yourself about planning. Paul did this partly by going to planning meetings and observing what went on out in the real world. Book learning only gets you so far.

Paul recommends qualifying as a Chartered Planning and Development surveyor like he did. He explains why.

Never assume you know everything. That is why Paul still works with planning consultants. But at the same time, he also double-checks everything himself.

Look at every little thing and think about how it applies to your site. That means keeping up with regulations, monitoring which planning applications are approved and which are denied and understanding why.

Be all over all of the details. Do the planner's job for them to make it easier for them to approve you than it is for them to refuse you.
BEST MOMENTS
“Having a planning strategy before you even start is a big part of how I've got a 100% planning permission track record.”
“You don't really want refusals on your sites …. sites with refusals can sometimes get a bit blighted.”
“A lot of those applications I've had to win at appeal.”
“Be super detailed. Reverse engineer everything.”
“Understand all of the things that might come up before they come up and address them at the application and design stage.”
“You do need to learn and understand quite a lot of this stuff well, as much of it as possible yourself, in order to spot the angles, the opportunities and the pitfalls at an early stage.”

ABOUT THE HOST
Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years' experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents.
Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multi-million-pound, award-winning property development company, Millbank Group.
In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know!
Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University.

CONTACT METHOD
LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs⁠
Millbank Land Academy: ⁠https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk⁠
Instagram - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial⁠
YouTube - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment⁠
This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
17 min
October 14, 2025 Inside the Vision: Paul Higgs Redefining Property as the Hippie Developer
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.”

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Paul's early struggles: ADD and adoption shaped his drive and work ethic, ultimately contributing to his success in property development.
The Importance of Understanding: Land & planning is crucial for successful property development, more so than just construction knowledge.
Option Agreements: Can be a powerful tool for developers to control land without significant upfront capital, allowing for bigger deals.
The 2008 Financial Crisis: Nearly wiped out Paul's business, highlighting the importance of careful financial management and choosing the right lending partners.
Property Development: Has become increasingly difficult over the years, with the number of SME house builders drastically declining since 1988.
Sustainable Development: Working with nature is important, but financial viability must also be considered to incentivise developers.
The Role of A Property Developer: Is like a conductor of an orchestra, overseeing various aspects and experts to create successful projects.
Building Relationships: Working with the right people is crucial in property development, as it's challenging to do everything alone.

BEST MOMENTS
"I eventually came to realise you need to know a lot more than just about construction in order to be a property developer. In fact, I came to realise that what it's really all about is land and planning."
"I'm a bit of a weird one because I'm a sort of hippie property developer, but I'm living in the real world so I know what it takes to get deals done."
"Most developers actually go bust, certainly the smaller ones. People don't really know about that. They just see the success stories and think we're all flying around in helicopters, making fortunes. It's not like that for most of us."
"We're basically the conductor of the orchestra, so we need to see the bigger picture and how everything fits together. We're the ones that take the big risks, the ones that have to put our wotsits on the line."
"The problem is, you know, when you build cheap, you build shit, you create shit, the whole environment goes to shit, people start acting like shit, and everything goes to f*cking shit."
ABOUT THE HOST
Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years' experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents.
Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multi-million-pound, award-winning property development company, Millbank Group.
In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know!
Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University.

CONTACT METHOD
LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs⁠
Millbank Land Academy: ⁠https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk⁠
Instagram - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial⁠
YouTube - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment⁠
This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠

57 min
October 07, 2025Land, Planning, and Viability: The Hidden Challenges of Building Homes with Michael Keaveny Part 2
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. This conversation will give you a clearer understanding of the obstacles, and opportunities, that are shaping the UK´s home building industry.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
Innovation, including Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), is not a silver bullet.

Builders are not Luddites; if a new way of doing things is better and cheaper, they adopt it.

At Grainger, specialist subcontractors who have the expertise to ensure each system e.g. Foundations and cladding are installed correctly and efficiently, do the design. Making the building more practical and buildable.

Most of the time building rules are made by people who have no practical experience of building homes. If you've got a lot of money going out before any starts coming in, it completely changes the numbers and makes things unviable.

Banning off-plan sales to international investors makes it much harder to finance and build new homes.

High construction costs and slim margins mean it’s not viable for developers to build homes that ordinary people can afford. It is far too big of a risk.

Without external financial support, e.g. subsidies, affordable housing isn’t viable under current market conditions.
BEST MOMENTS
“If it’s more expensive than traditional building, it’s got no business case.”
“Gateway two has stopped a load of schemes coming forward.”
“The only way we could build much cheaper flats is if the cost of construction dropped.”
“The message is getting through because development has stopped.”
“People who would head towards nimbyism, what they're really voting for is really to block the next generation.”
EPISODE RESOURCES
Part 1 - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/land-planning-and-viability-the-hidden/id1750859336?i=1000729415826
ABOUT THE HOST
Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years' experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents.
Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multi-million-pound, award-winning property development company, Millbank Group.
In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know!
Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University.

CONTACT METHOD
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs
Millbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment
This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
1 hr 7 min
September 30, 2025Land, Planning, and Viability: The Hidden Challenges of Building Homes with Michael Keaveny
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 complex economics behind affordable and social housing. Mike and Paul unpack the myths around land banking, reveal the true impact of planning delays, and discuss why the current system often fails to deliver the homes the UK needs.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Developers are not land banking, they are building on it as fast as the market can absorb.

The biggest issue in property development is viability. Balancing land costs, construction expenses, affordable housing requirements, and market values is not possible for many sites.

Delivering affordable and social housing is rarely viable without the provision of significant subsidies. Even when the land is provided for free.

High affordable housing targets can make projects unviable, especially for smaller sites. Flexibility and realistic expectations are needed to ensure developments can proceed.

Developers are not the villains - most want to build quality homes and contribute to communities, but are hampered by systemic challenges.

The loss of SME developers reduces industry capacity, innovation, and competition, making it harder to meet national housing targets and address the housing crisis.
BEST MOMENTS
“No developer, especially not large house builders, could possibly buy a site and then sit on it and hope the value of the land goes up. It’s absolute rubbish.”
“Viability is the biggest issue in development. If it doesn’t stack up, it doesn’t get built…simple as that.”
“If you want the housing crisis solved, you need to start listening to the people that are trying to solve it.”
“Affordable housing is a land value tax. Every single affordable home has a negative land value attached to it.”
ABOUT THE HOST
Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years' experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents.
Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multi-million-pound, award-winning property development company, Millbank Group.
In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know!
Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University.

CONTACT METHOD
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs
Millbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment
This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
1 hr 14 min
September 23, 2025Maximizing Value in Land, Planning, and Design Off-Market Deals and £1 Options
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 understand planning law and how various financing structures work themselves. Relying solely on consultants is not sufficient, they do not see the big picture e.g. an architect won´t know how to negotiate land deals that work.

Finding off-market deals and minimizing competition is crucial. Sourcing property deals off-market helps avoid bidding wars and protects profit margins.

Clever negotiation and securing opportunities on the best possible terms e.g. Using £1 option agreements and optimizing planning and design, developers can maximize value and profit before entering the most risky and costly stage which is building.
BEST MOMENTS
“In property development the risk is really how much time you need to spend on things, how much money and how much expertise you need.”
"All of the clever money and the value is created way before you get to the building bit."
"Being overly reliant on consultants is pretty much the worst thing you could do, and probably the biggest mistake that I see people make."
"Even now after 40 plus years, 90% of my deals are done on £1 option agreements, even though I could go just slapping money down, buying things if I really wanted to."
"Property development is all really about finding the best, minimising competition and then adding maximum value so that you've de-risked the process before you start. That's the key."
EPISODE RESOURCES
£1 property option agreements - https://www.ivoox.com/the-power-of-1-option-agreements-my-audios-mp3_rf_155852828_1.html
ABOUT THE HOST
Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years' experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents.
Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multimillion-pound award-winning property development company, Millbank Group.
In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know!
Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University.

CONTACT METHOD
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs
Millbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment
This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
20 min
September 16, 2025Can Property Development Serve Both Communities and Investors?
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 Purchase: Compulsory purchase powers are utilised by government entities to acquire land for public benefit, often for infrastructure projects or urban regeneration. Local authorities have specific powers, such as Section 226, to facilitate regeneration efforts.

Viability Challenges: Viability is a critical aspect of property development, particularly as it relates to the existing use value of land. Developers must ensure that the residual land value from a proposed development exceeds the benchmark land value, which is typically based on existing use value plus a potential premium.

Negotiation and Collaboration: Successful development often requires extensive negotiation with landowners and collaboration with local authorities. Developers should engage early with local authorities to align their proposals with public benefits and policy requirements.

Flexibility in Planning Obligations: Planning policies often allow for flexibility in affordable housing requirements. If a development proposal is not viable under full policy compliance, developers may negotiate to reduce affordable housing quotas to make the project financially feasible.

Importance of Evidence and Justification: Developers must provide robust evidence and justification for any deviations from planning policies, particularly regarding affordable housing. This includes demonstrating the financial viability of the project and undergoing scrutiny from independent experts on behalf of the local authority.

BEST MOMENTS
"Viability is a massive, massive, massive subject and becoming increasingly important as things become more and more unviable." - Paul
"If the public benefit outweighs the importance of protecting the private rights, then essentially you've got a prima facie case." - David
"It's not easy to get local authorities to do it. Unless it's pretty big and there's a pretty big benefit, they're probably not going to do it." - Paul

ABOUT THE HOST
Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development
Surveyor with 40+ years' experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents.
Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was
just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multimillion-pound award-winning property development company, Millbank Group.
In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach
established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know!
Paul is also a founding investor and former board
director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University.

CONTACT METHOD
LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs⁠⁠
Millbank Land Academy: ⁠⁠https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk⁠⁠
Instagram - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial⁠⁠
YouTube - ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment⁠⁠

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠⁠

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
1 hr 21 min
September 09, 2025Why Our Planning System Is Broken
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 TAKEAWAYS
Good design in property development remains a driving motivation for industry leaders.

CABE was a pivotal force in raising architecture and design standards.

Local authorities are increasingly under-resourced, struggling with planning challenges.

Although planning has shifted toward pro-development, delivery is hampered by systemic underfunding.

Balancing density and quality is essential to building sustainable communities for the future.

BEST MOMENTS
“Promoting good design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about building communities that last.”

“CABE set the stage for a whole new way of thinking about planning and architecture.”

“Local authorities simply don’t have the resources to keep up with the demands of planning.”

“We’ve made planning more pro-development, but without resources, the system still doesn’t work.”

“Density and quality don’t have to be in conflict—done right, they can complement each other.”
HOST BIO

Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years of experience in land, planning, and development, with a 100% success track record in securing planning consents.
Starting with his first refurb project at 17, Paul worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land at Barratt Developments, one of the UK’s largest housebuilders. In 2002, he left the corporate world to establish Millbank Group, now a multimillion-pound, award-winning property development company.
In 2013, he founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first dedicated training company for property developers, sharing insider knowledge the big housebuilders would rather keep secret. Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations at London South Bank University.
LinkedIn: Paul Higgs

Millbank Land Academy: millbanklandacademy.co.uk

Instagram: @paulhiggsofficial

YouTube: Inside Property Development
This podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media.
1 hr 46 min

About Inside Property Development

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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.

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