Connected Thinking: Ideas and insights from the people shaping the built environment

Tom discussed successful projects, where Related Argent have taken a long term vision, which has yielded success in areas like Kings Cross. We talked about some of the economic challenges, keeping stakeholders invested and delivering on the understanding of what occupiers want and need.

A conversation with Sasha White KC, one of the leading legal minds in the planning space, shares his views on planning reform, current legislation and political intervention in determining projects.We discuss planning committees, whether they are effective tools for decision making. Sasha then explains how we need to inspire the next generation of talent into the built environment.

An economic update with Adam Challis. Are the economic conditions for investors starting to realign? Which sectors are showing signs of real growth?We discussed the state of the market, London's positioning, lack of prime office supply and what it is that occupiers want.We delved into the pressure points for data centres and infrastructure demands and stress points.I joined Adam at JLL's new HQ in the Broadgate Estate. A state of the art office space that defines the firm's values and reflects their ambitions.

A conversation with Anju Suneja, Parter at Mischon de Reya, specialising in real estate. We discussed planning frameworks in the context of delivering a competitive environment and whether we can keep up with emerging high growth business needs.

A conversation with Nick Watson, Development Director at Lendlease. We discuss the company's approach to unlocking growth, as well as delving into supply chain pressures and opportunities across different sectors.

As London's South Bank enjoys its 75th anniversary, I sat with the CEO of the South Bank Business Improvement District (BID) to better understand what success looks like for BIDs and how public-private regeneration can be effective. The South Bank is not under single ownership, or masterplanned, so bringing together so many different stakeholders has produced lessons that could apply far and wide as we look at how cultural and mixed use districts can add value to our cities.

In discussion with Yasmin Al-Ani Spence, Board Director at Wilkinson Eyre architects. We talked about how clients are balancing viability, carbon and long term performance in today's market. How do you future proof designs for a market that is ever evolving?And Yasmin gave her perspective on how design leadership can influence policy, planning and the wider urban ecosystem.

Nick Bowes from LCA sat down to discuss the mood amongst developers and investors, now that the dust has settled after the London council elections.Is the market confidence seen at the start of 2026 still there, and are there new opportunities emerging from different asset classes?We discussed the impact on the London Plan and what Investors want to see from policymakers, to encourage capital deployment.

Ross Sayers discusses his term as Chair of the CPA and what lies next for the built environment. As the spokesperson for the developer community in the Square Mile, Ross shared his insights and some of the impacts achieved during his term as Chair.

A conversation with Adam Challis, Global Director, Strategic Insights, at JLL. We discuss the features from Q1 2026 that stand out and where opportunities lie going forward.How has the Middle East crisis impacted forecasts and what are the critical issues that London needs to tackle, to keep pace with change.