Inside Property Development

Watch the full episode on YouTube here.

In this episode, Paul talks to Wyn Evans, a founding partner at Shared Voice and co-creator of the highly successful Just Build Homes movement. They discuss successfully navigating the planning process. As a former councillor and planner,  Wyn knows why the planning process often fails. To address these issues, he and his team have developed innovative ways to engage the community in a positive way. This innovative approach means that when your project is considered for planning, local people support the project instead of opposing it.

Sponsored by LandTech:

Source faster. Plan faster. Work faster. LandTech provides software to streamline the property development process and get the right deals done.

Claim your free trial of LandInsight: https://land.tech/ipd-free-trial

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Planning decisions are heavily influenced by politics. Councillors need votes, so if they think the majority is against development gaining permission is difficult.
• Polls show that the majority of people actually support development.
• Human nature means that those who are opposed to your development will attend any meetings. When councillors see this their perception is that the majority are opposed.
• Talking to people about their housing aspirations fuels their desire for you to build more homes in their area.
• Some older people with a NIMBY mindset can be persuaded by the fact their children are more likely to be able to afford to live nearby.
• Many older people want to downsize, so point out that your development helps meet those needs.
• Focus more on communication, rather than consultation.
• Understand the pressure councillors are under and work to minimise that.
• The new government is now pushing councils to approve more housing.
• Once you have built, invite councillors to have a look.

BEST MOMENTS

“For the last 40 years, planning policies have all been driven by the attitudes of the public.”

“If 100 people are supporting a scheme, regardless of how many objections there are, it is much easier (for a councillor) to support that scheme.”

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://sharedvoice.co.uk

https://justbuildhomes.co.uk

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

Watch the full episode here. 

In this episode, Paul talks about something most people have never heard of – The Grey Belt. He explains what it is, the part it could play in solving the UK´s current housing crisis and how property developers can take advantage of this emerging opportunity. Paul has recently developed a grey belt plot, so knows how to get planning permission for this type of land.

His recent experience provides insights into how the government is likely to loosen planning regulations so that more of the grey belt can be developed. A policy idea Labour is pursuing as a way to ease the UK´s current housing crisis.

Sponsored by LandTech:

Source faster. Plan faster. Work faster. LandTech provides software to streamline the property development process and get the right deals done.

Claim your free trial of LandInsight: https://land.tech/ipd-free-trial

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The grey belt is essentially a part of the green belt.
• Not all green belt land is beautiful fields and forests, some parts are dumping grounds or covered in derelict buildings. These ugly abandoned areas are potentially grey belt land.
• Paul recently created a development on what was green belt land full of derelict buildings.
• The NPPF review includes finding ways to better utilise grey belt land. During the episode, Paul shares some of the development exclusions that might be taken away.
• Even if a site has been built on previously some factors are still likely to stop future development. Paul explains what some of them are.

BEST MOMENTS

“This (green belt) place was absolutely diabolical. It had lain vacant and derelict for years and years, covered in horrible old buildings.”

“There's an interesting question, around grey belt - To what extent does remoteness and things like that come into the equation?”

“Ideally close to existing settlements, ideally a bit messy, so it's not farms or fields or forests.”

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment/videos

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

Watch the full episode here. 

In this episode, Paul talks with Sean Branton about how his 3 days a week of work experience on building sites led to him becoming an award-winning developer entrepreneur. Despite not getting much formal education at school Sean became obsessed with educating himself, which is why he has been able to solve problems that have stopped others in their tracks.

He shares his entrepreneurial journey and explains how he is still getting deals done, despite the current market conditions making it difficult for SMEs to do so. Including, garden grabbing, and the pros, and cons of buying sites with planning and doing build-only deals with landowners.

Sponsored by LandTech:

Source faster. Plan faster. Work faster. LandTech provides software to streamline the property development process and get the right deals done.

Claim your free trial of LandInsight: https://land.tech/ipd-free-trial

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Forget fighting with 30 other people for land on Rightmove. Instead, do land studies to find something viable fewer people know about.
• Because sites with planning are in the public domain, they are very rarely cheap. So, the margins are often far too tight.
• You have to build extremely fast to make a site with consent work financially.
• Buying a site with planning is risky especially if prices happen to stop going up. Then, there is no way to cover any overspend and you can lose your entire business.
• Feed your site pipeline. If you don´t you will lose key members of your team and replacing them will be very hard.
• You need a good manager on the ground who can foresee problems, deal with them, and manage the technical stuff.
• Surround yourself with the right people and get a mentor. That will save you years.
• A lot of people with ADHD have a high tolerance for risk, which is why quite a few property developers have the condition. Often, they are also addicted to work.
• Make self-care and continually educating yourself priority

BEST MOMENTS

“Our best and most success is always direct to vendor.”

“I don't possess much talent, but I'm persistent, and I've got a much higher purpose and drive than other people.”

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://www.instagram.com/sean_branton

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

Watch the full episode here. 

In this episode, Paul is joined by Marios Stratis a property investor and developer who has worked in the industry for 23 years and is one of his students. He and his team have a reputation for sourcing land and buildings most others would not find or be willing to tackle, and then turning them into unique and profitable developments. 

Including doing so in conservation areas, with heritage properties and sites of archaeological interest. He shares his experience of flipping, HMOs, refinancing deals, handling landowners and much more. As well as sharing his take on recent legislation changes. Personal development has played a big role in Marios´ success, so he discusses that too.

Sponsored by LandTech:

Source faster. Plan faster. Work faster. LandTech provides software to streamline the property development process and get the right deals done.

Claim your free trial of LandInsight: https://land.tech/ipd-free-trial

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Personal development is a vital component of business success. 
• Mindset and mental health matter.
• Raise your vibration, frequency, or energy. When you do people are more comfortable and open-minded around you.
• Put in place a good system for managing and monitoring your leads.
• You need to build a strong, but balanced relationship with the landowner.
• Collaborate with professionals who have experience in the area and the type of scheme.
• Invest in your health, Marius has done so recently to reduce inflammation in his body, which has made him feel much better and become far more productive.
• The government needs to help landlords more, if they don´t they won´t create more homes, which is what is needed.

BEST MOMENTS

“I proved it to myself when I was a trader how important vibration was.”

“If they're (the landowners) difficult during the honeymoon period, you've got no chance when it comes to selling it, building, or completing on it. 

“It just comes down to the money pool at the end of the day.”

“You've basically taught us everything we needed to know from start to finish.”

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marios-stratis-57397511a

https://www.stratishomes.co.uk

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Power-vs-Force-Determinants-Behavior/dp/B002SQ22L4

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

Watch the full episode here. 

In this episode, Paul talks with Trevor Thorn the founder of Thorn Homes. He was a self-employed roofer, who became a property developer and established a roofing firm. Trevor uses private equity funding instead of borrowing from the banks, he explains why and how he does this.

They also discuss meeting the challenges that the current planning system in the UK throws up, tax planning, net zero builds, new building regs, and modular construction techniques. Trevor also touches on how he uses LandInsight, private investors, and certain FMB products.

Sponsored by LandTech:

Source faster. Plan faster. Work faster. LandTech provides software to streamline the property development process and get the right deals done.

Claim your free trial of LandInsight: https://land.tech/ipd-free-trial

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Educate yourself about tax and VAT. Not getting your company structure and deals right can cost you dearly.
• If you need to get someone to build for you choose the right person, which means being prepared to pay them the right money.
• Borrowing from banks has downsides, including the danger of having development funding pulled before the project is complete. Paul and Trevor share several examples during the episode of companies that lost everything because of this.
• If you do borrow from banks, don´t just use one company. You are putting all of your eggs in one basket.
• Even when you buy a plot with planning the margins are incredibly tight, so costs must be controlled, which is why Trevor builds his properties using his own team.
• Planning now takes at least 12 months in most parts of the UK. Allow at least 27 months to get something built.
• Managing landowner's expectations and educating them on how it all works is part of the art of getting off-market deals done on sensible terms,
• The Federation of Small Builders (FMB) offers some powerful products developers can use. Including a warranty that the banks like and insurance.

BEST MOMENTS

“I don't fund anything with banks.”

“Your business should be more wealthy than you are as a person, because that´s ultimately, where your income comes from.”

“If there is bad news, just deliver it, you can´t hide it.”

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://www.thornhomes.co.uk

https://www.fmb.org.uk

ABOUT THE HOST 

Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years' experience in land, planning, and development and a 100% successful track record in winning planning consents.

Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from laboring 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

Watch the full episode here.

In this episode, Paul talks to Sadun, who is one of Paul´s highly successful students. Sadun started out by doing small refurbs before transitioning to auction flipping and land deals. On his first land deal, he made a profit of £1.3 million. Sadun explains how he did that with the help of Paul´s training and LandTech. 

Sadun also shares what he is up to today, including how he has found 1,400 potential deals to pursue in London and how he gets planning there even for a property that has been turned down in the past.

Sponsored by LandTech:

Source faster. Plan faster. Work faster. LandTech provides software to streamline the property development process and get the right deals done.

Claim your free trial of LandInsight: https://land.tech/ipd-free-trial

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Having commercial properties in the mix helps to create a rental income that covers your monthly overheads.
• Putting in an offer before the auction date can land you good deals.
• Don´t get desperate and take on something that does not feel right.
• The planning process is full of surprises. Sometimes even when a project ticks all of the boxes it will not get approved.
• You have to see the full picture so that you can conduct the orchestra of people who work for you to deliver what you need. How you instruct your architect matters.
• Spending a few thousand on a planning consultant and architect who both know the area and how things really work before putting together your plans will save you a lot.
• Before contracting your architect for the full project get them to prepare a small sketch. This will weed out anyone who does not have the necessary vision and skill.
• Before you buy, understand what your plan B is. Make sure there is still enough money in the project even if things don´t go well.
• The way councils think changes over time and often the planning decision has a lot to do with local politics. Sometimes you have to wait for the right moment.
• There are still plenty of opportunities, including in every part of London.

BEST MOMENTS

“You still need the knowledge and experience to know what you're looking for and just decipher what you're actually seeing.”

“Optimise and maximise everything you do.”

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

Watch the full episode here.

In this episode, Paul talks to Kris Carpenter, who is a property developer from Leeds. He explains how he went from getting his Master's in psychology to joining the Army, leaving and building a big property portfolio through a JV. Before becoming a fully-fledged property developer, consultant and land trader.

By sharing his journey Kris provides you with practical and up-to-date strategies you can use to avoid the pitfalls and overcome the unavoidable challenges. If you are an ambitious property entrepreneur this is a must listen episode.

Sponsored by LandTech:

Source faster. Plan faster. Work faster. LandTech provides software to streamline the property development process and get the right deals done.

Claim your free trial of LandInsight: https://land.tech/ipd-free-trial

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Take advantage of downturns.
• Tax and exit planning are important. Think long-term and understand the pros and cons of each option.
• Take advantage of tax breaks, but never assume they won´t disappear. The government continually changes the rules and taxes that opportunity out of existence.
• Resist the temptation to pursue a bad deal because you are desperate to have something on the go. Wait until you find the right opportunity.
• Kris now develops projects that he holds onto and uses to generate income. He no longer sells everything on.
• Land deals where you get the planning, and then sell it to a builder are lucrative.
• Look at syndicated loans.
• If you are just starting out, spend 6 months learning about it and get a job in the industry before you invest.
• Get good at raising funds.
• Understand every aspect of your business model but build a team to get it all done.
• There's nearly as much work on a small deal as there is on a big one.
• Diversifying smooths out cash flow and protects you from downturns.

BEST MOMENTS

“Use the skills of a developer to create your own investments.”

“Property development is so complicated that you need to be world-class at one aspect of it..”

“The key skill is being able to build a team”

“It does not matter how rich you are, you will run out of money in this game.”

“Your ability to market and sell yourself and raise funds is key because the banks won't give you the money you need.”

ABOUT THE GUEST

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristoffercarpenter

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

To watch the full episode on YouTube, click here

In this episode, Paul is joined by Kevin Ellis, the founder of The Land and New Homes Network. After just 8 years he is working with over 100 UK estate agents across 450+ locations. Helping them to pull plots of land that are owned by different owners into a package of land that is big enough for a developer to build on (land assembly) and finding the right developer.

Kevin explains how land assembly works, how to spot opportunities, and how to deal with unrealistic landowner expectations. They also discuss why builders do not bank land and the issues that are stifling including affordable, net zero and sustainable housing in developments.

Sponsored by LandTech:

Source faster. Plan faster. Work faster. LandTech provides software to streamline the property development process and get the right deals done.

Claim your free trial of LandInsight: https://land.tech/ipd-free-trial 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Land assembly is the process of combining two or more small adjacent plots into a single parcel. Plots that are then big enough to be developed.
• Estate agents are in the perfect position to spot land assembly opportunities.
• Off-market deals are a good way for small developers and builders to source the land to provide good-quality housing.
• Often, explaining how much the houses will cost to build is the best way to manage landowners' unrealistic expectations.
• Fully assessing not only what the land can be used for but also whether there actually will be a market for it by the time the houses are complete is essential.
• Agents collaborating with developers to source and develop land is a huge win-win for them and the community they are working in.

BEST MOMENTS

“Land is literally the lifeblood of the industry. Without land, there is no development”

“The amount of people who just don´t understand land economics just amazes me.”

“Educating landowners is actually a massive part of the process.”

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://www.lnhnetwork.co.uk/

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

To watch the full episode on YouTube, click here

In this Q&A episode, Paul looks at preparing yourself for a situation where building materials suddenly become difficult to buy and cost a lot more than budgeted. He also shares the most effective way to derisk a project and explains what the biggest challenges are when building sustainably.

Sponsored by LandTech:

Source faster. Plan faster. Work faster. LandTech provides software to streamline the property development process and get the right deals done.

Claim your free trial of LandInsight: https://land.tech/millbank-referral

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Using a standardized design makes it far easier for you to find an alternative building material and apply that change across your project.

• Design in alternatives, so that you have a potential solution ready to implement if a material suddenly becomes unavailable.

• Fixed price contracts are not always a cast iron way of avoiding rising bill costs. Sometimes enforcing the contract when the price of building materials soars can lead to the contractor going bankrupt. In the end, you hire another contractor and still have to pay more than planned.

• Paul never buys a site with planning permission. During the episode, he explains why and how this helps him to derisk his developments.
• The more sustainably you build the more it costs. But soon new standards will mean everyone builds this way, which will level things up again.

BEST MOMENTS

“We had the biggest build cost increases, since WWII”

“Property development is not some easy get rich quick thing where it always goes the right way, very often it goes the wrong way.”

“Find 100% off-market development opportunities, then negotiate and secure them on sensible terms, and add maximum planning value to them.”

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

Watch the full episode here.

In this episode, Paul talks to the well-known architect Heinz Richardson who was also a director of Jestico + Whiles where he worked for 33 years. They discuss sustainable development, climate change, social justice and why the UK´s planning system is broken. 

They also discuss how architects and developers can work more closely together to improve the housing stock and overcome the problems that are holding the UK back.

Sponsored by LandTech:

Source faster. Plan faster. Work faster. LandTech provides software to streamline the property development process and get the right deals done.

Claim your free trial of LandInsight: https://land.tech/millbank-referral

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• For Heinz there has always been a strong connection between architects, the social environment and climate.

• Jestico +Whiles pioneered the employee-owned company structure for architects. Heinz explains how and why they went down that route.

• The House for the Future at The Museum of Life was built 25+ years ago using only building materials sourced within a 25-mile radius.

• With climate change, we have reached the point where we can´t stop it, now we need to work on mitigating it and dealing with the effects.

• Reusing what we have already extracted is vital.

• Despite his 30+ years’ experience Heinz was refused planning permission for his hyper-eco-friendly family home, which when built won awards. The planning system is broken.

• Even in conservative areas, people are open to and want innovative housing.

• Some planning authorities are becoming more discerning, but it is still hard to shift perceptions and deal with prejudices.
• Homes don´t need to be ostentatious to be desirable.

BEST MOMENTS

“John Wiles devised this fantastic scoring system that was brilliant. It measured people's contribution to the practice in 10 different fields.”

“If you do something, you should be able to disassemble it and use it again.”

“The irony of this refusal is that this was the 1st time I’d ever been refused planning in my whole career.” (planning permission for his family home)

“A lot of housing is quantum; it is about maths in the end.”

RESOURCES

https://www.instagram.com/heinzr54/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/heinz-richardson-2b804aa/

https://museum.wales/media/5039/hotf.pdf

Amory Lovins - https://rmi.org/about/office-locations/amory-private-residence/

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