People Move to Places, Not Buildings: Nick Searl on King’s Cross and Beyond

The Politics of Regeneration: Baron John of Southwark on Building Homes in London

In this episode of Architects for Change, Jay Morton speaks with Peter John, former Leader of Southwark Council and now a member of the House of Lords.Peter led Southwark for a decade during a period of major change across London. Under his leadership the borough delivered significant estate regeneration, new council housing and large scale urban transformation projects.Jay and Peter discuss the realities of delivering housing in London, the politics of regeneration, and what local government can and cannot do to tackle the housing crisis. They explore how councils balance growth with community concerns, why planning has become increasingly politicised, and what needs to change if the UK is going to deliver the homes it desperately needs.The conversation also reflects on Peter’s move into the House of Lords and what role national policy can play in enabling better housing delivery.A thoughtful discussion on housing, politics and the difficult decisions behind city making. #architecture #southwark #elephantandcastle #houseoflords #uklabour #labourparty #politics #podcast #planning #housing #1.5millionhomes

People Move to Places, Not Buildings: Nick Searl on King’s Cross and Beyond

Nick Searl has spent nearly two decades shaping some of the UK’s most ambitious regeneration projects. Trained as an architect, he played a pivotal role in the transformation of King’s Cross and later led the delivery of Brent Cross Town. In this episode of Architects for Change, Nick reflects on what really made King’s Cross work: building trust before drawings, agreeing shared principles, and investing early in public space, culture and everyday life long before homes and offices were complete. We explore why people move to places, not buildings; why sound, joy and human experience matter in city-making; and why doing “the engaging stuff” first is not a nice-to-have, but fundamental to successful regeneration. With the government’s new towns agenda back on the table, Nick shares hard-won lessons on infrastructure, viability, political will and public-private partnership — and why measuring success purely by housing numbers risks repeating past mistakes. We also look ahead to what Nick is working on now, the role architects need to reclaim in shaping cities, and why — despite everything — he remains optimistic about the future of large-scale urban development. #architecture #podcast #politics #economy #realestate #masterplannedcommunity #masterplanning #urbandesign #1.5millionhomes #labourparty #relatedargent #kingscross

Seeing in the Dark: Amy Lamé on the 24 hour city

Former Night Czar Amy Lamé joins Jay to explore what cities really look and feel like after dark. We discuss the hidden workforce of more than 1.3 million Londoners who work at night, the rise of the 24 hour economy, and why design must consider life beyond daylight. Amy shares the story behind the Women’s Night Safety Charter and how it grew into a global movement. We talk planning, licensing, nightlife, public space, architecture, and why climate change may shift work, culture and daily life into cooler night hours. Amy leaves us with one powerful question.What does it look like in the dark? #GLA #london #nighttimeeconomy #sadiqkhan #amylame #architecture #politics #labourparty

Paul Johnson on Growth, Planning and the Economics Shaping our Built Environment

In the Architects for Change podcast we have often spoken about the economy and economics. So for this episode it seems fitting to talk to an economist, and who better than Paul Johnson. Paul is one of the most trusted economic voices in the country. Until recently he was the Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the UK’s most respected independent economic research body, and he is now Provost of Queens College Oxford and a senior adviser at Frontier EconomicsIn this conversation we look at how economic choices shape everyday life in our cities, towns and neighbourhoods. We talk about the UK’s long term growth challenges, the impact of stop start infrastructure planning, why our planning system struggles, and what this means for housing, placemaking and the 1.5 million homes agenda.Paul gives a clear, grounded view of why economic and political timescales clash, how local and regional governance can help unlock growth, and why building well connected homes in the right places matters just as much as the numbers. A vital listen for anyone working in planning, architecture, housing or public policy. #pauljohnson #Instituteoffiscalstudies #economy #ifs #politics #architecture #builtenvironment #planning

Peter York: Culture Wars, Dead Cats, and the Battle for Public Attention

In this episode, Jay Morton steps away from bricks and mortar to delve into politics and culture with writer, broadcaster and cultural commentator Peter York. Co-author of The Official Sloane Ranger Handbook and author of Dead Cat on the Table, Peter unpacks how culture wars are manufactured, funded and weaponised to distract from the issues that really matter. From the power of think tanks and the media to the politics of place and pride, this conversation explores how narratives are shaped in Britain today—and why architects and placemakers should care. #architecture #culturewars #peteryork #culturewars #55tuftonst #thinktanks #instituteofeconomicaffairs #politcs #builtenvironment #architecture