Place Podcast

Digital agency Eword discusses how the world of property marketing has evolved in recent years and lifts the lid on what developers and landlords should, and shouldn’t, be doing to attract residents to their schemes on this episode of the Place North West podcast.

Eword founder Al Mackin and director and head of digital Mariel Rubinstein joined Place North West deputy editor Dan Whelan to run through what, in their experience, makes for a successful and impactful marketing campaign in 2025.

In the final episode of Scheming series two, Peter Connolly, chief executive at igloo Regeneration, takes the Scheming hot-seat to discuss trying to make the world a better place one home at a time, turning down a job at Manchester United, and how the financial crash put paid to plans to regenerate his local city.

In July, Place North managing partner Dino Moutsopoulos and deputy editor Dan Whelan sat down to discuss how preparations for MIPIM 2026 are going after launching a fresh programme and suite of packages in May.

This week on Scheming, Planit co-founder Pete Swift lifts the lid on Liverpool’s UNESCO debacle and designing gardens for the Japanese mafia.

This week's Scheming features Ben Denton, chief executive of L&G Affordable Homes.

Ben someone who has spent a large chunk of his career dedicated to the affordable housing sector, and who, since 2018, has been spearheading one of the world's largest investment drives to deliver more discounted dwellings across the country.

In this episode of Scheming, Jonathan Wilson, Citu’s managing director, discusses being admired by his peers and why viability is not an excuse for failing to deliver great places. He also takes us from his roots in Yorkshire, over to mainland Europe, and into Africa as he discusses the three projects he thinks about the most.

Seasoned regeneration practitioner Caroline Baker discusses what inspired her to get into property, the rise and rise of Stockport town centre, and grand plans for her hometown.

The creation of Liverpool ONE, which Baker describes as “transformational”, also gets a mention as the scheme she wishes she had been involved in.

The latest episode of Scheming sees Place sit down with the managing director of Muse and one of the country’s leading authorities on regeneration.

Phil Mayall discusses Salford Central, a multi-billion-pound project he has dedicated much of his professional life to, and Kings Cross - an exemplar of how to get regeneration right.

The first episode of series two sees Place chat with a Stirling Prize winner and one of Manchester's best-known architects about the projects that have shaped his career - Stephen Hodder, founding director at Hodder + Partners.

In its push to achieve housing targets, the government is exploring the option of lowering the cost of CPOs – but will this well-trodden path be effective? Plus: the differing fortunes of speculative offices and data centres.

This week on Scheming, arguably Manchester’s most influential architect chats with Place North West about his love of glass, working with Renaker to transform the city’s skyline, and his ambitious vision for the city’s inner ring road.

This week on Scheming, Liverpool City Council’s corporate director of city development chats with Place North West about looking to mainland Europe for placemaking inspiration, bringing a beach in London, and setting a new tone in Liverpool.

An architect by trade, Gallagher’s career has seen her work in New York, London, and plenty of other places in between. During the podcast, she talks about some of what she has learned with Place North West deputy editor Dan Whelan.

This week on Scheming, Urban Splash director Nathan Cornish chats with Place North West about staying relevant, why he is worried about the next generation of property developers, and missing out on winning the £2.5bn Salford Crescent masterplan.

Speaking with Place North West deputy editor Dan Whelan, Cornish reflected on his 22 years at Urban Splash and discussed some of the highlights, including taking an area of Salford earmarked for the wrecking ball and transforming it into a trendy neighbourhood as well as his dream scheme: making Manchester the greenest city in the world.

Despite the odds, the office market not only survived Brexit woes and Covid concerns - it positively thrived. But has Labour’s employer NI hike just spelt the end for the high-end office market? Plus: Peel ducks out at MediaCity and co-living picks up pace in Leeds.

This week on Scheming, Manchester City Council’s head of regeneration for the Eastern Gateway Shelagh McNerney chats with Place North West about becoming obsessed with car parks, “completing Ancoats”, and why a public sector grounding is vital for young property professionals.

Speaking with Place North West deputy editor Dan Whelan, McNerney reflected on a 40-year career that has seen her flit between the public and private sectors to deliver impactful regeneration and discussed how the delivery of regeneration projects has changed over the years.

This week on Scheming, Sheila Bird Studio founder Atul Bansal chats with Place North West about breathing new life into a forgotten Manchester gem and planning New York treehouses with Steven Bartlett.

Speaking with Place North West deputy editor Dan Whelan, Shelia Bird’s Bansal discussed getting inside the head of his clients and why the pandemic was “brilliant” for his business.

Watch This Space founder Michelle Rothwell chats with Place North West about incredible feats of endurance, how her competitive streak has shaped her career, and developing something unique in the Lake District.

Capital&Centric co-founder Tim Heatley discussed going from renovating a Victorian terrace in Salford to embarking on the challenge of developing a new town from scratch on the very first episode of Scheming.

Speaking with Place North West deputy editor Dan Whelan, Heatley also reflected on his starring role in the BBC series Manctopia, being the go-to converter of crumbling mills, and a scheme that strikes a balance between exclusivity and social inclusion.

Scheming is a new podcast series from Place North West featuring some of the biggest names in property.

Episodes will be released weekly, with the first landing on Wednesday 16 October 2024.

Next year, Place North is doing MIPIM differently and will run the show’s first-ever exhibition stand dedicated to the North of England. Find out how you can get involved by listening to this podcast.

Place North’s mission is to shine a light on Northern towns and cities. MIPIM 2025 will position those places, and the businesses regenerating them, on the global stage, providing an opportunity for them to showcase plans, share knowledge, and champion the North.

The strength of brand Manchester, a proactive local authority, and a culture that encourages open and honest discussions among partners are among the keys to Salford’s growth over the last decade.

Salboy managing director Simon Ismail and Euan Kellie, company director at Euan Kellie Property Solutions sat down with Place North West deputy editor Dan Whelan to reflect on the last 109 years of Salford’s regeneration story and look ahead at what comes next.

The UK is pinning many of its growth hopes to the life sciences sector. But will labs turn out to be as lucrative as previously thought? Plus: Rental houses are beating flats in the war for investment and a shed in Doncaster attracts a £54m cash injection.

The property industry is keeping a close eye on Labour’s promise to deliver the next generation of new towns. This podcast, brought to you by Brookbanks, explores what actually goes into unlocking and delivering large-scale projects.

Paul Boileau and Fran Taylor, chairman and associate director at Brookbanks respectively, sat down with Place North West deputy editor Dan Whelan to discuss, from start to finish, the process of delivering major residential-led developments.

Place North West editor, Julia Hatmaker, is joined by Onward Homes' Sandy Livingstone and Turner & Townsend's David Kemp for a candid look at the state of social housing in the UK and how the sector is doing in the race to a world free of carbon emissions.

In this podcast episode, Place North publisher Paul Unger revisits the final interview he conducted with Bernstein during his last week in office at the town hall.

The interview is a snapshot in time, and the audio recording has never before been published.

Discussing the intricate plans behind Wigan's new bold developments are Hayley Fielden, service manager – commercial development at Wigan Council, Ciara Sweeney, director at Freeths, and Ian Tempest, partner at Freeths.

Chaired by Place North West deputy editor, Dan Whelan.

Before dusting off his golf clubs, the outgoing chief executive of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority sat down with Place deputy editor Dan Whelan to reflect on the seismic role he has played in the growth of the city region.

The property industry thinks Labour's manifesto may be hard to deliver, if Angela Rayner's recent UKREiiF speech is any guide. Place North analysis editor David Thame digs into new towns, leasehold reform, and Grey Belt. Plus: Levelling up in Doncaster.

Welcome to May, a month where the Northern property market is focussed on revenue as the half-year approaches. Place North analysis editor David Thame looks into why revenue is dominating investor mindsets. Plus: mayoral elections and Liverpool entertainment.

A fortune awaits the bold and the brave who are ready to face the monsters endangering the property market. Place North analysis editor David Thame digs into where the opportunity lies - and what pitfalls face our heroes. Plus: a look at Northern economies and Sunderland's high streets.

Blackstone's mega data centre has risen from the ashes of BritishVolt's Northumberland dreams. Place North analysis editor David Thame explores the stalling EV revolution and what that means for the push for data centres. Plus: good news all around for Leeds offices and Newcastle BTR.

An early doors plan for 530,000 sq ft of offices in Preston hints at a wider change in attitudes around investing in regional workspace. Place North analysis editor David Thame digs into the matter. Plus: skyscraper dreams in Liverpool and speedy progress on York Central.

New data from the Office for National Statistics shows the power twentysomethings have on Northern cities. Place North analysis editor David Thame digs into what this means for offices and homes. Plus: a snapshot of the industrial market.

The warehouse sector is more appealing than ever to those with seriously deep pockets. Place North analysis editor David Thame looks at investor appetites. Plus: Planning fast lanes and Leeds' bright future.