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Jonny Anstead and Neil Murphy believe better real estate starts with creating places that improve people's lives, strengthen communities and support a healthier planet. In this episode, the Founding Directors of Town join Adam Hinds to explore how sustainable housing, community-led design and innovative development can deliver stronger social, environmental and commercial outcomes. The conversation explores Town's approach to challenging traditional housing models, reducing car dependency and creating neighbourhoods that encourage connection, wellbeing and a better quality of life. Drawing on their pioneering Marmalade Lane cohousing development in Cambridge, Jonny and Neil discuss how involving residents in design decisions can strengthen communities, reduce living costs and create better places for future generations. They also explore Town's impact framework, built around personal, community and planetary wellbeing, and how measuring long-term outcomes, attracting impact investment and rethinking development models can help scale purpose-driven real estate. Episode Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to Jonny Anstead, Neil Murphy and Town 01:57 - Jonny's journey from management consulting to sustainable real estate 05:51 - Neil's background in economics, government and urban regeneration 09:39 - How transport, accessibility and urban design influence sustainability 12:21 - Introducing Town and its approach to purpose-driven development 15:07 - Good places for better lives: Balancing profitability with purpose 18:08 - Marmalade Lane: The story behind Cambridge's pioneering cohousing development 24:05 - Measuring the long-term social and financial impact of cohousing 25:52 - Designing neighbourhoods for children and intergenerational living 30:03 - Creating the conditions for stronger communities 32:51 - Why cohousing offers an alternative to conventional housing development 36:30 - Challenging traditional housing models through resident-led design 37:17 - How Town involves future residents in the development process 40:14 - Town's impact framework: Personal, community and planetary wellbeing 43:24 - Measuring impact and scaling purpose-driven development 45:11 - Regeneration, investment partnerships and long-term financial models 47:39 - Town's ambitions for growth and impact investment 48:36 - Neil and Jonny's favourite buildings and developments 49:15 - Jonny's favourite place and the importance of vibrant streets 51:14 - Influential books on urban design, placemaking and housing 53:40 - Life outside real estate: Rugby, cooking and composting About Jonny Anstead: Jonny Anstead is Co-Founder and Director of Town, a UK-based housing developer focused on creating sustainable homes and neighbourhoods that improve people's lives. With a background in languages, management consulting, sustainability and strategic masterplanning, Jonny brings a multidisciplinary perspective to real estate development. Before establishing Town in 2014, he worked at Beyond Green, helping to develop innovative approaches to sustainable placemaking and large-scale regeneration. About Neil Murphy: Neil Murphy is Co-Founder and Director of Town, bringing extensive experience in economics, public policy, urban regeneration and sustainable development. After studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Oxford, Neil began his career at HM Treasury before joining Newcastle City Council, where he developed a strong interest in the relationship between urban design, economic productivity and people's quality of life. He later joined sustainability consultancy Beyond Green, where he met Jonny and developed the shared vision that led to the creation of Town in 2014.

Ferdinand Grapperhaus believes the future of real estate performance lies in using better data, AI and automation to make buildings more efficient, responsive and easier to operate.  In this episode, Ferdinand Grapperhaus, CEO and Co-Founder of NextSense, explains why collecting building data is only the beginning. NextSense combines structured building data, AI agents and building physics to help owners, occupiers and operators identify performance gaps, improve energy efficiency, reduce costs and maintain high levels of comfort across real estate portfolios.  The conversation explores the journey from analogue buildings to truly intelligent assets, and why many buildings already have the technology they need but still fail to perform as intended. Ferdinand discusses the challenges created by disconnected systems, fragmented data and overstretched facilities teams, and why dashboards alone are not enough. Instead, AI can analyse building performance continuously, identify issues, recommend interventions and increasingly take direct control of building settings.  The discussion also examines how AI can optimise heating, cooling, ventilation, thermal comfort and even blinds in real time. Ferdinand shares real-world examples including £250,000 in energy cost savings across ten assets and potential energy reductions of 10–15% through better control of blinds alone. He also explains why operational optimisation should often come before major retrofit decisions, allowing building data to inform where CapEx will have the greatest impact.  Episode Chapters:  00:00 - Ferdinand’s journey into real estate and the building energy challenge  04:47 - Entrepreneurship, innovation and the importance of focus  06:34 - What NextSense is and how it improves building performance  10:41 - The difference between analogue and smart-ready buildings  13:00 - Why building technology alone has not solved the performance problem  15:11 - Understanding the building performance gap  18:07 - Why AI is moving PropTech from a nice-to-have to a must-have  22:38 - Why high-quality building data is the foundation of AI  24:47 - Turning building data into energy conservation measures  26:22 - When AI moves from recommendations to direct control  27:31 - Adaptive thermal comfort and responding to changing weather  30:31 - What AI can actually control inside a building  32:22 - Real-world energy and cost savings from AI optimisation  35:40 - Why optimisation should come before major retrofit  38:12 - Designing new buildings for better long-term performance  41:19 - Understanding what occupiers really want from buildings  43:28 - How building performance can influence tenant demand  46:57 - The future of AI, offices and intelligent buildings  50:13 - Where Ferdinand finds inspiration  51:26 - The influence of Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead  53:03 - Ferdinand’s favourite place and connection with nature  54:02 - Football, family and life outside work  About Ferdinand Grapperhaus:  Ferdinand Grapperhaus is CEO and Co-Founder of NextSense, a building intelligence company using AI, structured data and building physics to improve the performance of commercial real estate.  Originally trained as a physics engineer, Ferdinand has spent more than a decade developing technology focused on reducing energy consumption and improving how buildings operate.  Through NextSense, Ferdinand works with owners, occupiers and operators to turn building data into actionable insights and automated controls. The platform combines digital twins, AI agents and expert oversight to help buildings reduce energy use, improve comfort, lower costs and operate closer to their true performance potential.

Barry Jessop believes better real estate starts with understanding people, how they use spaces, how they feel within them and how those insights can create stronger, more resilient assets.  In this episode, Barry Jessop, Founder and Managing Director of Socius, explains why successful development should start with human behaviour rather than bricks and mortar. Drawing on almost three decades in real estate, Barry explores how observation, curiosity and a deeper understanding of how people use and feel within spaces can shape better buildings and places. He also explains why sustainability, social impact and commercial performance should not be treated as competing priorities, arguing that considering people, planet, reputation and stakeholders is fundamental to creating a robust long-term investment strategy.  The conversation explores Socius’ approach to large-scale mixed-use development and Barry’s belief that real estate has become too constrained by regulation, standardisation and a fear of creativity. He discusses why developments should respond to how people actually experience places, the importance of tracking changing consumer behaviour and why understanding how a space will operate is just as important as how it is designed. As Barry puts it, “space without operation is nothing” the real human experience comes from how a place works once people begin using it.  Throughout the episode, Barry challenges the traditional relationship between landlord and tenant. He argues that developers are no longer simply there to provide buildings; their role is increasingly to help occupiers become more successful, whether through productivity, wellbeing, amenities, talent attraction or sustainability. The future relationship, he believes, is less landlord and tenant and more business partnership, with developers increasingly accountable for the performance and experience their buildings enable.  Episode Chapters:  00:00 - Barry’s journey into real estate and discovering the impact of development  05:54 - Introducing Socius and its approach to mixed-use development  08:17 - Why Barry founded Socius and bringing new thinking into real estate  10:47 - Building B Corp principles into the foundations of the business  12:59 - Why sustainability and commercial returns should work together  15:17 - Have real estate developments lost their creativity and fun?  20:16 - Designing around people and understanding how spaces are actually used  26:52 - Why curiosity is one of the most important skills in development  29:47 - Looking outside real estate for better ideas and innovation  33:34 - Socius’ sustainability strategy: carbon, nature and social impact  35:37 - Bringing nature back into developments and urban environments  38:10 - Connecting biodiversity, communities and social value  42:37 - Nature, wellbeing and understanding the needs of occupiers  43:57 - Why developers should be helping their occupiers become more successful  46:23 - Barry’s inspirations, interests and approach to life  48:01 - The book that forced Barry to slow down  49:50 - What Brighton’s Lanes can teach us about successful urban places  About Barry Jessop:  Barry Jessop is Founder and Managing Director of Socius, a UK mixed-use developer focused on complex brownfield regeneration with a strong emphasis on environmental and social impact.  His career began with Lendlease before he went on to become Chief Executive of First Base and later founded Socius. Today, his approach combines human-centred design, sustainability and commercial performance to create places that work better for occupiers, investors and communities.

Jacob Sandelson believes the future of real estate depends on understanding people first, what they need from buildings, how they use them and how better operating models can create more resilient, valuable assets.  In this episode, Jacob Sandelson, Founder of Compound, explains why the traditional model of developing a building, securing a long lease and stepping away from its operation is becoming increasingly outdated. Instead, Compound combines high-quality real assets with what Jacob calls the “soft infrastructure” of people, systems, processes, technology and operations to create real estate platforms designed to perform over the long term.   The conversation explores Compound’s first platform, Comporter, a new approach to self-storage combining storage, workspace, amenities and highly considered design around the needs of individual users and small businesses. Jacob discusses why customer research sits at the centre of the model, how community engagement can become one of the most valuable forms of development due diligence, and why sustainability, social value and local economic impact should ultimately support commercial performance rather than sit separately from it.   The discussion also examines planning risk, institutional investment, operational real estate and why increasingly sophisticated investors are looking for diversified, resilient income rather than relying solely on long leases. Throughout the episode, Jacob shares a refreshingly simple philosophy: understand the customer, remain curious about people and translate those insights into better buildings, operations and investment decisions.   Episode Chapters:  00:00 - Jacob’s journey into real estate and the experiences that shaped his approach  05:02 - What Compound is and why Jacob builds real estate “platforms”  09:55 - Introducing Comporter and rethinking the self-storage model  14:33 - The lightbulb moment that revealed the opportunity in self-storage  16:28 - Designing around the user: storage, coworking and co-location  19:20 - Real estate’s two customers: occupiers and investors  22:40 - Why sustainability is fundamentally commercial  24:29 - Social value, SMEs and creating buildings that strengthen communities  27:55 - What listening to local communities can teach developers  31:06 - Why public consultation should be treated as development due diligence  33:21 - Raising capital, achieving scale and attracting institutional investors  35:42 - Planning risk and changing perceptions of self-storage  38:23 - Why institutional capital is moving towards operational real estate  40:16 - Where Jacob finds inspiration and the power of human interaction  41:18 - The books influencing Jacob’s thinking on systems, people and business  44:22 - Curiosity, communication and Jacob’s final advice for real estate leaders  About Jacob Sandelson:  Jacob Sandelson is Founder of Compound, a real estate investment and development business building operational real estate platforms in sectors where it sees strong long-term consumer and institutional demand.  Jacob began his career in residential development before moving into more operational and user-focused areas of real estate, including workspace. Those experiences shaped his belief that successful real estate must consider not only the physical building, but also how people experience, operate and interact with it.   Through Compound, Jacob has developed Comporter, a privately held self-storage platform focused on London and the South East. The portfolio comprises approximately 600,000 sq ft across seven new-build assets, combining self-storage with workspace, amenities, sustainability and locally responsive design. Compound’s approach brings together the “hard infrastructure” of high-quality buildings with the “soft infrastructure” of people, systems, processes and operations to create more resilient, user-led real estate.

Freddie Pritchard Smith believes the future of real estate depends on understanding what technology buildings already have, what they genuinely need and how data can be used to make them perform better. In this episode, Freddie Pritchard Smith, CEO of Trustek, independent PropTech adviser and former chartered surveyor, explains why asset owners cannot begin a meaningful digital transformation without first understanding their existing systems, operational challenges and available data. The conversation explores the journey from analogue buildings reliant on paper, manual reporting and disconnected systems to smarter, data-led assets that respond to how they are actually used. Freddie discusses building technology audits, smart metering, energy optimisation, occupancy data, leak detection, indoor air quality, connectivity and customer experience. The discussion also examines return on investment, the difference between maintaining and optimising a building, on-demand building operations and the growing cybersecurity risks created as buildings become increasingly connected. Throughout the episode, Freddie shares practical insights into how asset owners can build a clear technology strategy, prioritise the right interventions and use building data to reduce costs, improve performance and create healthier, more resilient places. Episode Chapters: 00:00 - Freddie’s journey from chartered surveying to building technology 07:25 - What Trustek does and why buildings need independent PropTech advice 09:25 - Why Freddie founded Trustek and the problem it was created to solve 11:20 - The three questions every digital building strategy should answer 14:20 - What separates an analogue building from a genuinely smart building 18:55 - Leak detection, insurance risk and overlooked technology quick wins 20:20 - Where analogue building owners should begin their digital journey 24:20 - Turning building data into energy optimisation and measurable value 26:40 - Indoor air quality, wellbeing and the human cost of poor buildings 29:05 - Why the smartest buildings should operate on demand 31:40 - Cybersecurity, building hacking and managing digital risk 38:00 - Favourite buildings, inspiration and life beyond PropTech About Freddie Pritchard Smith: Freddie Pritchard Smith is CEO of Trustek, an independent property technology consultancy and building audit platform helping landlords, asset managers and property managers transform analogue buildings into smarter, data-led assets. Originally trained as a chartered surveyor, Freddie spent nine years working in Central London office agency before moving into technology leadership. His experience across both real estate and PropTech enables him to bridge the gap between building owners, operators and technology providers. Through Trustek, Freddie and his team advise some of the UK’s largest institutional landlords and property managers, helping them understand their existing technology, identify operational priorities and select the right solutions across energy, connectivity, user experience, building performance and cybersecurity.

Arthur Kay believes the future of cities depends on rethinking our relationship with mobility, urban design and the hidden systems that shape everyday life. In this episode, Arthur Kay, entrepreneur, urbanist, Professor of Practice at University College London, and co-author of Roadkill: Unveiling the True Cost of Our Toxic Relationship with Cars, explains why the car has become one of the most influential forces shaping our cities and why understanding its true social, economic and environmental costs is essential for creating healthier, more prosperous places. The conversation explores how mobility influences freedom, quality of life, real estate development and long-term urban resilience. Arthur discusses the philosophy behind his new book, the hidden costs of car dependency, designing cities around people rather than vehicles, the importance of transport choice, density, site selection and why developers should think beyond the red-line boundary when creating future-ready places. The discussion also examines new towns, planning policy, accessibility, the future of urban mobility and how systems thinking can help shape better cities for future generations. Throughout the episode, Arthur shares practical insights into creating more resilient, people-focused cities through better design, mobility and systems thinking. Episode Chapters: 00:00 - Arthur's career journey and lifelong mission to make cities better places 08:00 - Why cities, not countries, drive human progress and innovation 11:10 - The inspiration behind Roadkill and uncovering the hidden costs of cars 16:45 - Freedom, the psychology of car ownership and challenging conventional assumptions 23:40 - What great urban mobility looks like and why transport choice matters 31:10 - Mobility, accessibility and creating genuine alternatives to car dependency 35:30 - Urban design strategies to improve mobility and quality of life 37:55 - Why site selection matters more than sustainable building materials 42:20 - Planning policy, density and building better cities instead of urban sprawl 47:30 - The Network of Care framework and systems thinking for real estate 55:00 - Richard Rogers, influential books and ideas shaping the future of cities About Arthur Kay: Arthur Kay is an entrepreneur, urbanist, Professor of Practice at the Institute for Global Prosperity at University College London, and co-author of Roadkill: Unveiling the True Cost of Our Toxic Relationship with Cars. Originally trained as an architect, Arthur has founded and scaled multiple businesses focused on urban innovation, including Skyroom, while also serving on the boards of Transport for London, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Museum of the Home. His work brings together urban design, mobility, systems thinking and public policy to help create healthier, more prosperous and future-ready cities.

Ackroyd Lowrie is challenging the traditional role of architects by combining design excellence with planning strategy, political engagement, AI innovation and social impact. In this episode, Oliver Lowry, Co-Founder of Ackroyd Lowrie, explains why securing planning consent is one of the greatest value creation opportunities in real estate and how architects can improve project outcomes by understanding the priorities of local authorities long before an application is submitted. The conversation explores Ackroyd Lowrie's unique approach to planning strategy, tailoring ESG messaging for different councils, the growing co-living sector, and how the practice is using AI to automate workflows while giving designers more time to focus on creativity. Oliver also shares insights into education, post-occupancy evaluation, virtual reality, apprenticeship programmes and why better collaboration across the construction industry is essential for delivering more successful projects. Throughout the episode, Oliver shares practical insights into creating better planning outcomes, embracing new technology and designing more commercially successful, socially valuable developments. Episode Chapters 00:00 Oliver's journey into architecture, creativity and real estate 06:45 Lessons from Archetype and designing sustainable buildings 09:30 Post-occupancy evaluation, virtual reality and breaking down information silos 14:55 Building an apprenticeship academy and creating social impact through education 19:20 Ackroyd Lowrie's approach to regeneration, retrofit and planning-led design 22:10 Why planning consent creates the greatest value in development 27:30 Why every local authority requires a different ESG strategy 30:15 The rise of co-living and lessons from the How To Handbook 36:20 Why co-living is becoming a mainstream housing solution 40:10 Community, loneliness and creating successful co-living developments 42:35 AI, automation and the future of architectural practice 46:00 Running AI hackathons and building practical tools for design businesses 48:40 Books, inspiration and Oliver's views on the future of architecture About Oliver Lowry Oliver Lowry is Co-Founder of Ackroyd Lowrie, a London-based architectural practice specialising in urban regeneration, retrofit, planning strategy and large-scale residential-led development. After beginning his career at sustainability-focused practice Archetype, Oliver co-founded Ackroyd Lowrie with a vision of combining great design with commercial thinking, planning expertise and emerging technologies. Today the practice delivers complex regeneration projects, retrofit schemes, hotels, co-living developments and mixed-use projects across London and the UK. Alongside his architectural work, Oliver leads industry research into co-living, pioneers the use of AI within architectural practice, and has established apprenticeship and education programmes to help create more diverse pathways into the profession.

Bywater Group is pioneering a new model of real estate development centred on regenerative thinking, timber construction, whole-life carbon and systems-based design. In this episode, Joe Jack Williams, Head of Regenerative Strategy at Bywater Group, explains why the future of property lies beyond conventional sustainability and how developers can create buildings that actively improve environmental, social and economic outcomes. The conversation explores how Bywater's regenerative philosophy influences development briefs, embodied carbon, timber construction, circular economy principles and long-term asset resilience. Joe also discusses designing buildings for disassembly, the growing role of engineered timber, measurable sustainability targets, and why systems thinking will play an increasingly important role in shaping the next generation of real estate. Throughout the episode, Joe shares practical insights into regenerative development, future-proofing assets and creating long-term value through better design, collaboration and innovation. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Joe's engineering background and journey into sustainable buildings 04:30 From building physics to architectural research and systems thinking 10:45 Introducing Bywater Group and why regenerative development matters 17:30 Creating measurable sustainability briefs for development projects 21:30 Managing long-term risk through future-focused investment decisions 25:40 The Three Horizons framework for innovation and strategic planning 29:15 Why regenerative thinking goes beyond traditional sustainability 37:40 Delivering timber buildings at scale: opportunities and challenges 46:20 Designing buildings for disassembly and the circular economy 50:15 Can buildings become future material banks? 55:00 Community engagement, social value and designing with local people 58:20 Books, influences and lessons shaping the future of real estate About Joe Jack Williams: Joe Jack Williams is Head of Regenerative Strategy at Bywater Group, a carbon-conscious developer and investment manager focused on delivering low-carbon, timber-led developments across the UK. Joe began his career as a mechanical engineer before specialising in building physics, sustainability and environmental performance. He later completed a doctorate at University College London, researching how building design influences educational environments and low-carbon schools, before spending more than fifteen years at Fielden Clegg Bradley Studios, where he became Partner and Head of Research & Sustainability. Throughout his career, Joe has helped shape many of the UK's leading sustainability initiatives, contributing to industry guidance on embodied carbon, whole-life carbon assessment and low-carbon building design. At Bywater Group, Joe leads the company's regenerative strategy, embedding systems thinking, circular economy principles, timber construction and measurable sustainability targets into every stage of the development process.

Neutral is a vertically integrated real estate development company based in the United States that is rethinking how buildings are designed, constructed, and operated through the lens of sustainability, resident wellbeing, and long-term resilience. Neutral combines development, architecture, construction, wellness, and technology to create healthier, lower-carbon, and more future-resilient multifamily buildings. In this episode, Nate Helbach, Co-Founder and CEO of Neutral, shares the philosophy behind the company and explains how environmental economics, natural capital stewardship, and systems thinking have shaped its approach to real estate development. The conversation explores why traditional development models often fail to account for long-term environmental and operational performance, and how Neutral is attempting to redefine sustainability through regenerative design principles and vertically integrated delivery. A major focus of the episode is Neutral’s resident wellbeing strategy, including air quality, water quality, daylighting, local food partnerships, wellness amenities, and personalised health optimisation programs designed to improve long-term resident wellbeing and retention. The conversation also explores how investment models may need to evolve to properly value future-resilient buildings, with Nate sharing his perspective on long-term ownership structures, generational investing, and why conventional underwriting often struggles to capture the full value created by sustainable and operationally resilient assets. Episode Chapters 00:00 Nate’s early exposure to real estate and investing04:30 Natural capital, sustainability, and the origins of Neutral12:10 Rethinking resource use and regenerative development principles16:35 Why Neutral adopted a vertically integrated operating model22:50 Feedback loops, operational learning, and long-term performance24:00 Delivering one of the tallest mass timber towers in the U.S.31:40 Fire testing, building codes, and proving mass timber equivalency34:00 Designing buildings around resident wellbeing and health38:20 Personalised wellness programs, diagnostics, and longevity strategies41:30 Long-term investing and future-resilient real estate assets47:30 Investment philosophy, stewardship, and generational value creation48:40 Books, influences, and lessons from Patagonia and environmental economics About Nate Helbach Co-Founder and CEO of Neutral, a U.S.-based real estate development company focused on delivering sustainable, wellness-oriented, and future-resilient multifamily buildings through a vertically integrated operating model spanning development, architecture, construction, technology, and wellbeing. Nate founded Neutral with the goal of redefining sustainability in real estate by applying principles of environmental economics, natural capital stewardship, and long-term systems thinking to the built environment. His work focuses on reducing the environmental impact of buildings while simultaneously improving resident health, operational performance, and long-term investment resilience. Under Nate’s leadership, Neutral has become a recognised pioneer in mass timber development and healthy building design, including the delivery of one of the tallest mass timber residential towers in the United States. The company’s projects integrate low-carbon construction, high-performance building systems, wellness programming, and personalised health strategies into a unified development approach. Alongside development, Nate is actively exploring new investment models designed to support long-duration ownership and future-resilient real estate assets, with a focus on creating buildings that deliver both environmental and financial sustainability over multi-decade time horizons.

The UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard is an industry-led initiative created to establish a unified, science-based definition of what constitutes a net zero carbon building in the UK. Developed collaboratively by leading built environment institutions, the standard provides measurable performance benchmarks for operational energy, embodied carbon, renewable energy generation, and whole-life building performance across both new and existing assets. In this episode, Katie Clemence-Jackson, CEO of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard, explains how the initiative emerged in response to growing industry confusion around the meaning of “net zero” in real estate. She shares how the standard was developed through one of the largest collaborative efforts the UK property industry has undertaken, involving hundreds of volunteers, technical experts, institutions, and thousands of building data points. The conversation explores how the standard works in practice for both existing buildings and new developments, including operational energy limits, embodied carbon reporting, annual verification processes, and why measured in-use performance sits at the centre of credible net zero strategies. Katie also explains why the standard intentionally incentivises retrofit-first approaches and how many existing buildings may be closer to achieving net zero alignment than the industry currently assumes. We also discuss how the standard could influence wider areas of the real estate ecosystem, including sustainable finance, valuation, investment strategy, and future regulation. Throughout the episode, Katie offers a highly practical perspective on the future of net zero real estate, the importance of industry-wide consistency, and why better data, accountability, and collaboration will play a defining role in shaping future-resilient buildings and portfolios. Episode Chapters 00:00 Katie’s background in engineering and sustainability05:10 The performance gap and what shaped her net zero thinking10:35 Why the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard was created18:20 How the standard defines net zero buildings26:45 Existing buildings, retrofit, and operational performance35:10 Embodied carbon, data collection, and verification42:30 New developments and designing for net zero from day one49:20 Net zero claims, industry consistency, and transparency56:40 Sustainable finance, valuation, and future-proofing assets01:03:10 The future vision for the standard and UK real estate About Katie Clemence-Jackson CEO of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard. Katie leads the delivery and industry adoption of the UK’s first unified net zero carbon buildings framework, helping establish a consistent and measurable pathway for decarbonising the built environment. Katie began her career in engineering, specialising in building performance, sustainability, and operational energy. Her experience spans technical design, post-occupancy evaluation, and environmental performance analysis, with a particular focus on closing the gap between modeled and real-world building performance. Before becoming CEO, Katie played a central role in the development of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard, initially joining the initiative as a project manager during its formative stages. Her work has involved coordinating technical working groups, industry consultation, pilot testing programmes, and collaboration across leading real estate institutions, developers, contractors, investors, and sustainability experts.

Bloom is an urban warehouse investment and development manager specialising in ultra-urban and last-mile logistics infrastructure across the UK. The business focuses on creating highly sustainable, design-led warehouse environments in dense city locations, helping modern businesses operate closer to customers while reducing congestion, delivery times, and carbon impact. In this episode, co-founders Tom Davies and Sam McGirr explain how Bloom emerged from a shared belief that cities, consumer behaviour, and logistics networks are changing faster than traditional industrial real estate can adapt. Their backgrounds span institutional investment, development, and operational real estate, but both saw the same opportunity. Businesses increasingly need flexible, centrally located warehouse space that allows them to serve customers faster, operate more sustainably, and integrate operational and corporate functions more effectively. The conversation explores the principles behind Bloom’s investment thesis and why the business has focused so heavily on “ultra-urban” warehousing in locations traditionally overlooked by the logistics sector. Tom and Sam explain how extensive occupier research shaped the company from day one, helping Bloom design assets around how businesses actually operate rather than relying on outdated assumptions. We also discuss Bloom’s pioneering work delivering multi-storey urban warehouse schemes in London, and why they believe the model represents a major evolution for industrial real estate in dense cities. The discussion covers sustainability, smart building technology, operational efficiency, and the growing importance of customer engagement and service-led landlord relationships. Throughout the episode, Tom and Sam offer a grounded look at how urban logistics is evolving, why sustainability and operational performance are increasingly interconnected, and what the future of industrial real estate may look like as cities continue to grow and densify. Episode Chapters 00:00 Bloom’s origins and investment thesis05:10 Tom and Sam’s backgrounds in real estate12:20 Founding Bloom and identifying the urban logistics opportunity18:45 Ultra-urban warehousing and occupier demand24:30 Multi-storey industrial schemes and evolving warehouse design31:10 Sustainability, ESG, and operational efficiency37:50 Customer engagement and the future of occupier relationships43:15 Research, innovation, and evolving market trends49:35 Entrepreneurship, inspiration, and lessons from building Bloom About Tom DaviesCo-Founder of Bloom. Tom leads the firm’s investment, development, and strategic growth initiatives across its urban logistics platforms. Before founding Bloom, Tom spent five years at Segro working across development, leasing, asset management, and investment. He later joined startup accelerator Antler, where his experience exploring urban logistics helped shape Bloom’s original investment thesis. About Sam McGirrCo-Founder of Bloom. Sam oversees investment, occupier strategy, and operational growth across the business. His experience spans office investment, development, and hospitality-led real estate in both the UK and North America. Sam brings a research-driven approach to understanding how occupiers use space and how urban logistics infrastructure is evolving.

“You could automate most of property management today. The real constraint is not technology.”  Brad Hargreaves joins the ESG in Property Podcast to explain where real estate is actually changing, and where it isn’t. Drawing on his experience building and exiting General Assembly and scaling Common into a multi-city co-living platform, Brad breaks down how operating models, capital requirements, and demographics are reshaping asset performance beneath the surface.  The discussion focuses on why sector labels like “office” or “residential” are losing meaning, how institutional capital really decides what is investable, and why value is often created by turning fragmented, non-institutional assets into scalable product.   Brad also explains where AI is already outperforming humans in leasing and collections, why development remains resistant to automation, and how efficiency gains introduce new risks such as rental application fraud.  This episode is a practical framework for understanding how real estate economics and operating assumptions are shifting now, not in theory.

V7 is an asset and development management company specialising in the transformation and decarbonisation of buildings. The team focuses on deep transformation and creating more sustainable, enjoyable environments that reduce carbon impact and deliver financial success for clients.  In this episode, co-founder and director Chris Hunt explains how that philosophy took shape. His route into real estate ran from converting a dilapidated house in Bristol into flats, to 11 years at Cushman & Wakefield, to leading transformation projects at Legal & General. Over time, one theme kept repeating itself. Long-term financial strength relies on two fundamentals. Buildings must perform environmentally, and they must create places where people genuinely want to be. Everything else flows from that.  The conversation explores the principles behind V7’s operating model. Chris sets out why their projects begin with first-principles thinking. Why standard assumptions around cost, materials, and specification need to be challenged. And why their philosophy of “use less, waste less” has become a core design tool for reducing embodied carbon, lowering operational costs, and strengthening long-term viability.  We also discuss V7’s commitment to what Chris calls “bold transparency”, including publishing embodied carbon figures for their projects even when they sit above internal targets. It is a deliberate move to raise industry standards, cut through superficial ESG claims, and show in black and white what a building has actually consumed.  The episode looks at the challenge of partner alignment, the role of cognitive diversity, and why V7 will walk away from investors or consultants who are not committed to building responsibly. It also addresses the growing engagement gap between developers and occupiers, and why the industry still struggles to communicate technical sustainability data in ways that genuinely resonate.  Taken together, the conversation offers a clear, grounded picture of what it takes to deliver buildings that are financially resilient, lower carbon, and genuinely future-ready.  Episode Chapters  00:00 V7’s philosophy and purpose 05:20 Chris Hunt’s background and early career 12:10 Founding V7 and the shift toward transformation 17:45 First-principles design and “use less, waste less” 23:30 Bold transparency and measuring embodied carbon 28:40 Choosing the right partners and building diverse teams 34:10 The occupier engagement challenge 40:55 Advice, inspiration, and the future of V7  About Chris Hunt Co-Founder and Director of V7. Chris leads the firm’s strategy across asset transformation, development, and decarbonisation.   His experience spans more than 15 years in real estate, including senior roles at Cushman & Wakefield and Legal & General.   With a background in both investment and hands-on development, Chris brings a detailed, first-principles approach to creating buildings that are financially resilient, environmentally responsible, and designed for modern ways of living and working.

“It used to be a nice to have to be seen to be green for properties. Now it is an actual commercial imperative."  Energy has moved to the centre of real estate value. Rising power prices, grid constraints, lender expectations and operational risk now sit behind every investment decision. Buildings that cannot secure affordable, low-carbon energy face higher operating costs, a growing brown discount and an increased risk of obsolescence. Those that can, gain an advantage on running costs, liquidity and access to finance.  Jonathan Cohen explains how this shift has unfolded. As a specialist energy lawyer with more than 20 years’ experience, he advises utilities, project developers, major energy users, real estate owners and funders on clean-energy transactions across rooftop solar, battery storage, district heating, corporate PPAs and private-wire structures. His work sits at the intersection of infrastructure, regulation and property — where long-term value is increasingly determined.  A major part of the discussion focuses on the rapid emergence of zero-capex models for on-site clean energy. Third-party providers now fund, build and maintain rooftop solar and battery systems on long leases. Landlords enhance their asset without deploying capital. Tenants receive cheaper, green power in a high-cost market. Funders gain long-term contracted revenues.  We then turn to the hardest constraint of all: the grid. Connection delays stretching into the 2030s are reshaping development timelines and forcing new due-diligence practices. Jonathan sets out why the system is blocked, how “zombie” connection agreements created a backlog, and how new queue-management rules are designed to prioritise viable projects.  The conversation also explores corporate power purchase agreements and private-wire arrangements. Jonathan explains where PPAs make sense, what lenders look for, and why location, credit quality and load profile determine whether a structure can deliver real savings and bankable economics.  Finally, we examine the growing importance of green leases. Not as broad statements of intent, but as specific, measurable, enforceable clauses that hard-wire energy performance, cost-sharing and change-of-law provisions into the landlord–tenant relationship. The goal is simple: protect asset value, deliver operational efficiency and ensure that sustainability commitments are achieved in practice.  The episode offers a clear picture of how energy, contracts and regulation now shape real-estate performance, and what owners, developers and occupiers must get right to build future-resilient assets rather than stranded ones.  Episode Chapters  00:00 Introduction, context and why energy now sits at the heart of ESG  01:43 How energy and sustainability in real estate have evolved  05:52 Commercial drivers, zero capex clean tech and on site generation  15:27 Grid connection constraints and their impact on development strategy  26:18 District heat networks and the coming heat regulation regime  29:12 Corporate PPAs, pricing, risk allocation and lender expectations  37:10 Private wire arrangements and local energy solutions  38:54 Green leases, "bankable" clauses and aligning landlords and tenants  44:57 Sharing knowledge, collaboration and what comes next for the sector  About Jonathan Cohen  Jonathan Cohen is a Partner at Fladgate specialising in energy and low carbon infrastructure. He advises utilities, developers, major energy users, real estate investors, funders and energy services companies on the full life cycle of clean energy projects, from rooftop solar and battery storage through to district heating, EV charging and complex corporate PPAs.  With more than twenty years of experience in the sector, Jonathan brings a detailed understanding of how regulation, contracts and financing structures shape the economics of energy for buildings, and how the right structures can protect value for both owners and occupiers.

“Risk is often marginalised, especially during bull markets. We believe it should drive decision-making and portfolio construction at all times.”    For Evonite, risk is the foundation of every decision. The firm focuses on medium-risk, value-add investing, built on disciplined underwriting, transparent analysis, and consistent performance for investors, not asset gathering.    Jose Luis Pellicer explains how this philosophy came to define the business. Trained as an applied economist, he began his career analysing industries at Deutsche Bank before moving into real estate, a sector that combined geography, finance, corporate structure, and competition. Working with mentor Nick Tyrrell, he learned to approach property from first principles. That outsider’s perspective still shapes how Evonite challenges convention today.    The Global Financial Crisis reinforced a central lesson: markets are driven by stories as much as by numbers, and people follow the herd. Pricing becomes detached from fundamentals until it no longer can. The skill lies in recognising when that exuberance has gone too far and acting accordingly.    At the centre of Evonite’s approach is the Evonite risk score, a consistent analytical framework that measures and compares every potential investment before capital is deployed. It defines risk as financial downside, the risk of not achieving the underwritten return. Built on three core property risks: depreciation, vacancy, and liquidity, it blends scientific structure with human judgement to create a common scale for all deals.    Evonite launched in 2024 to deliver investor performance in a market dominated by scale, to stay nimble in a changing geopolitical and regulatory landscape, and to bring consistent, transparent risk assessment into every decision.    The conversation challenges consensus views and explores where opportunity may lie in sectors that most investors have written off, and why discipline, rather than conviction alone, will define success in the years ahead.    Episode Chapters    00:00 Introduction to ESG in Property Podcast  02:11 Jose's Journey into Real Estate  09:32 Influential Figures and Learning Resources  19:58 Founding Principles of Evonite  26:18 Understanding Risk in Property Investment  27:06 Evonite A New Approach to Real Estate  28:54 Defining and Managing Risk  33:16 Strategies for Risk Management  36:49 Navigating High-Risk Investments  37:53 Contrarian Views on Investment Sectors  43:37 The Future of Office Spaces  44:52 Researching and Assessing Risks  51:25 Looking Ahead: The Future of Evonite    About Jose Luis Pellicer   Jose Luis Pellicer is Partner Strategy at Evonite, where he leads the firm’s investment and ESG strategy, chairs the Investment Committee, supports capital raising, and oversees marketing and communications. He brings more than 25 years of real estate experience. Before Evonite, he was Global Head of Investment Strategy at M&G Real Estate, chairing the Global Investment Committee and sitting on the executive committee. He has previously been a partner at Rockspring Property Investment Managers, later served as Patrizia’s Global Head of Research and a member of its senior leadership group, and has held roles at Goldman Sachs, AEW Europe, and Deutsche Bank.