Estates Gazette Property Podcasts

Chair: Evelina Grecenko, senior reporter Speakers: Huw Davies, partner head of ESG, Jones Hargreaves Today, the most successful assets aren't just "green"; they are commercially resilient, high-performing spaces that occupiers actually want to inhabit. In this episode, recorded at UKREiiF, we sit down with Huw Davies, head of ESG at Jones Hargreaves, to challenge the traditional view of sustainability. Huw argues for a shift in language and mindset: moving away from the narrow lens of ESG toward the broader, more strategic framework of responsible investment. We’ll explore why investors are no longer looking for minimal compliance, but for a clear return on their social and environmental capital. As occupiers demand more flexibility, better amenities and authentic placemaking, the buildings that thrive will be those that treat these demands as commercial opportunities rather than overhead costs. Reflecting on recent projects, from the heritage-sensitive retrofitting of York’s historic assets to the delivery of high-spec ESG-led refurbishments in Central London, Huw shares how Jones Hargreaves is bridging the gap between "doing good" and "doing business”. This is a conversation about how the buildings of tomorrow are being built on the responsible investment decisions of today.

Chair: Akanksha Soni, news editor Speakers: Steven Calder, head of connected buildings Bob Allen RCDD, director – smart buildings, Block Solutions For today’s occupiers, a building is only as good as its heartbeat: the digital connectivity that keeps their business alive. In this episode, we sit down with Elevate to explore how they are redefining the relationship between landlords, agents and occupiers. We move past the traditional "four-month wait" for fibre and look at how smart infrastructure, like London’s innovative rooftop wireless networks, is creating zero-risk connectivity through "Ground to Cloud" resiliency.We’ll dive into the story of the Preconnect® model, a partnership-led approach that removes the headache of individual installations and learn more about the Wayleave agreements that enable landlords to offer "moving-in ready" connectivity, a powerful lever for occupancy and asset value.Join us as we discuss why the future of the smart building isn't just about the hidden digital backbone or the cables in the walls, but the partnerships that ensure a tenant's first day in a new office is their most productive one.

Chair: Tim Burke, editor Speaker: Helen Collins, principal & managing director, Midlands, head of UK living and affordable housing, Avison Young When the traditional blueprints for BTR and housing for sale no longer align with economic reality, the industry must look to new models and partnerships beyond the balance sheet. Today, the most valuable asset in a developer's toolkit isn’t just land or capital, it’s the ability to flex and pivot to find the opportunities among the challenges. In this episode, Helen Collins explores the move toward embedding partnership models. As project feasibility becomes a moving target, Avison Young is seeing a new trend: regional experts joining forces to breathe life into stalled opportunities. We discuss how these collaborative ecosystems are rewriting the rules of delivery, ensuring that vital housing projects move from the drawing board to the community.

Speakers: Tim Burke (chair) | Editor Estates Gazette Kellie Hatton | National head of real estate, Shakespeare Martineau Sam Wallis | CEO, GIA Bruce Evans | Chief commercial officer, RentGuarantor Editor Tim Burke sits down with some of the judges from our category sponsors to discuss this year's awards

Speaker: Bev Craig, leader, Manchester City Council Chair: Evelina Grecenko, senior reporter, Estates Gazette Greater Manchester has spent a decade as the UK’s fastest-growing city region, with productivity consistently outpacing the national average. This success is no accident; it is the result of a long-term leadership approach and a consistent vision that integrates investment in skills and public health to drive a genuine increase in quality of life. In this episode, Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, discusses how the city region is leveraging its trailblazing devolution powers to deliver a £38bn boost to the UK economy by 2035. We explore the launch of the Good Growth Fund, a landmark vehicle designed to pump-prime 2 million sq ft of employment space and nearly 3,000 new homes in its first wave alone.

Speakers:Stacy Eden, head of real estate, RSM Kelly Boorman, partner – head of construction, RSMChair: Akanksha Soni, news editor, Estates Gazette Real estate may be regaining confidence, but the fundamentals are shifting. We're joined by RSM to unpack the findings of its latest Real Estate 360 survey and explore what’s really driving market sentiment in 2026. With 64% optimistic about the year ahead, funding conditions easing and living sectors still leading allocations, is the recovery story finally gaining traction or are viability pressures and tax constraints still holding the sector back? From planning delays and rising development costs to the policy levers government can, and can’t, pull, this conversation will examine the mechanics of delivery in a higher-for-longer environment. We’ll then pivot to technology. With one-third of firms implementing AI this year and smart buildings topping the innovation agenda, how are data, automation and cyber resilience reshaping risk management and occupier experience? If you want to understand where capital, construction and technology intersect in 2026, this is the conversation you won’t want to miss.

Speakers:Chair: Shifali Gorka, reporter, Estates GazetteJill Anderson, acquisitions manager, Whitbread Jonathan Langdon, senior acquisitions manager, Whitbread We’re diving into the hotel investment race in London and Edinburgh with the experts leading the charge. Learn how affordable brands like Premier Inn are winning the battle for "impossible sites” and get the inside track on the future of UK hospitality development. We’ll also discuss whether there’s a shared playbook for growth in both cities, how market conditions compare, and what challenges lie ahead for operators and investors. Whether you’re active in the sector or tracking UK hotel investment, this is the MIPIM conversation to catch.