The Scottish Housing Podcast

Graham Simpson, MSP, shares his journey into politics, discussing his early interest in political issues and his career as a journalist. he reflects on his time as a local councillor and the importance of cross-party collaboration in addressing housing issues.

The conversation delves into the challenges of student accommodation, affordability, and the need for a dedicated cabinet secretary for housing. Additionally, they explore the significance of maintaining tenement properties and the complexities of enforcing communal responsibilities among property owners.

In the modern fast moving world of 24/7 news cycles where everything has to be summed up in 240 characters, it can be difficult to take the time to look ahead and forecast what's to come.

With all the electoral turmoil across the states and the potential impact upon our economy and more, Steven and I took a moment to sit down, take a breath and discuss what 2025 might bring.

We start with the macro world view and funel that down to how it may impact housing here in Scotland.

CBRE are one of the leading property advisory firms in the world and therefore when an executive director of CBRE UK sits down for a chat it's always worth a listen.

Steven and I are joined for the first podcast of 2025 by Chris Dougray, Head of Development Scotland at CBRE to chat all things property.

We found it fascinating and we hope you do too.

Through their conservation grants programmes people will enjoy, understand and care for Glasgow’s historic built environment and will be able to access funding and expertise which will ensure the sustainability of the city’s heritage for current and future generations.

Niall has nearly 20 years experience as an architect and is heavily involved in heritage, conservation and community issues in Glasgow being current Chair of Govanhill Baths Building Preservation Trust – the largest meanwhile use in Scotland – and Vice Chair for the Pollokshields Trust – a community anchor organisation set up following the ‘Make Your Mark’ East Pollokshields and Port Eglinton Charrette in 2016 which Niall helped secure funding for.

Niall has won the Glasgow Doors Open Day Excellence Award for Inspiring City Tour (2017), the Glasgow Doors Open Day Above and Beyond Award (2014), the Sir Robert Lorimer Award for Sketching (1996) and, in addition to nominations for Saltire Awards and GIA Awards was nominated for the Scottish Civic Trust’s My Place Award for Civic Champion in 2015. Niall regularly lectures on architecture, heritage and urban design issues.

If you or your family have lived in a tenement at any time in the West of Scotland you will have a pretty good idea about what a property factor is and what they do.  Elsewhere across Scotland it's likely that you'll know of the work of a factor if you live in modern flats or an estate of modern homes.  But for many a property factor may be a thing you've heard of but you're not really sure what it is - well we're here to explain.

Paul McDermott owns a property factor company and is a director of the trade body - The Property Manager's Association and he's on the podcast to explain all.

Founded in 1783, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce is the oldest Chamber in the English speaking world with continuous records and has always been a driver of change and progress in the city.

Current CEO, Dr Stuart Patrick CBE, is a very vocal advovate and whilst his position is based upon what's best for his city, his comments will resonate among people across Scotland.

Recently Stuart has been making news in his comments about the recent Housing Bill and so we decided to have him as a guest on the podcast.

Hopefully you'll enjoy the chat between Brian, Steven and Stuart.

This week Steven & Brian are joined by MSP Ariana Burgess, Convenor of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee.  

Ariane Burgess has been a Green MSP for Highlands and Islands since 2021 and author of Life Design for Women: Conscious Living as a Force for Positive Change.

Specifically, for the purposes of our podcast, we discuss her role as the convenor of the housing committee and what she sees as the role of the committee in shaping and interrogating government legislation.

This weeks guest is the highly respected Professor Ken Gibb, Professor in the School of Social and Political Sciences in the subject area of Urban Studies at Glasgow University. He is also Director of the ⁠UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence⁠ (CaCHE) funded by ESRC, AHRC and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and established in 2017.

He has carried out research for government departments, ESRC, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, trade bodies, the private sector and international organisations like OECD, the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute and the European Union. Recent research, including projects for the Scottish Funding Council and for the EPSRC, have shifted into the economics and evaluation of net zero and lower carbon retrofit of existing housing.

This week, Steven and Brian are joined by The Housing Minister - Paul McLennan MSP.

Paul is an SNP MSP representing East Lothian since 2021 and prior to this was a councillor for many years for Dunbar and East Linton.

We discuss with him whether this long period in local government was a help in preparing him for life as an MSP and a Minister and he provides us with an exhaustive list of issues that he has to cover within the housing brief.

An excellent chat and we'll no doubt get him on again to discuss the various announcements that he trails in the podcast.

The Scottish government has called a housing emergency.  Brian & Steven discuss what might have been the reasons for calling the emergency and what steps might they take next.