A valuable resource for the industry, leading property and regeneration consultancy Red Loft has launched a brand-new podcast series which marks 20 years since the foundation of the firm.
In each episode of the six-part series, company Partner and host Danny Sutcliffe is joined by esteemed guests from across the housing industry to discuss the property landscape in 2023 and issues facing the sector today. A look-back at the last two decades, The Red Loft Podcast commemorates the organisation’s twentieth birthday, with each episode presenting informative and insightful conversations on how the industry has changed in that time.
Throughout the series, Danny welcomes a line-up of major names from several sectors of the industry, from private construction and architecture to local authorities and charitable Housing Associations. Each episode centres around a core theme, covering topics that include how some of the UK’s leading Housing Associations are investing in their existing homes and services and how the industry can support and encourage more women into construction.
The featured guests of the series include Fiona Fletcher-Smith, Group Chief Executive at L&Q and Paul Hackett CBE, CEO at Southern Housing, both of whom offer insights into the crucial role that Housing Associations play in the property sector today.
Reflecting on L&Q’s development to date Fiona comments:
“The growth has been phenomenal, but in some ways vital. The country still has 8.4 million people inadequately housed. We build about 59% of the homes we need each year and only 31% of the affordable homes we need.”
“At L&Q also, we’ve recognised that we need to invest in our existing homes as well. We’ve just announced major contracts worth £2.9 billion for maintenance and investment, starting with fire safety and bringing all our homes up to EPCC level so that we can then really start to work on carbon neutrality after that.”
Danny and his guests also examine how housing policy, modern methods of construction and changing public attitudes to housing will shape the sector over the next 20 years, amidst conversations about the importance of sustainability for the future of the housing industry.
Highlighting the increasing need to use sustainable construction methods and materials, guest Andrew Waugh, Founder and Architect at Waugh Thistleton Architects explains, “the carbon emissions of making cement are three times greater than the global aviation industry…”
Further episodes with Helen Bunch, Executive Managing Director at Wates Residential, Jennifer Daothong, Executive Director for Housing, Regeneration and Public Realm at Lewisham Council and Claire Bennie, Director of Municipal cover a range of topics from the changing landscape of placemaking and regeneration, the gendered dynamics of the construction industry and the shift towards prioritising design in housebuilding.
Danny Sutcliffe, Partner at Red Loft and podcast host, comments:
“We are delighted to be launching the Red Loft Podcast, giving us an opportunity to sit down with some of the industry’s most prominent figures and discuss the sector’s most pressing issues from MMC to inclusiveness and fire safety. Looking back on the last twenty years, it’s amazing to see how much the housing industry has changed since Red Loft was founded in 2002. The quality of delivery and design has been hugely improved – more than ever before, developers are prioritising design and architecture – and emerging new methods of construction are significantly changing the sector for the better.
We hope the podcast will become an invaluable resource for property professionals wanting to learn more about the industry and keep up to date with news from some of the sector’s biggest names.”
The full series of The Red Loft Podcast is available to listen on Spotify now: https://lnkd.in/eKXQEdxs
You can also watch the full series on the Red Loft YouTube channel: https://lnkd.in/e_vFR48g
