Estate Matters

Philipp Lukas is Chief Executive Officer of Future Biogas - who develop and operate Anaerobic Digestor (AD) plants in the East of England.
In this episode Philipp discusses the challenges of promoting AD plants, including allaying fears that sites will smell and increase traffic.
He is joined by KOR's Senior Public Affairs Consultant, Andrew Howard who explains the principles of communicating renewable energy projects and how important it is to set the narrative from the outset.

Managing Director of Estates at Blenheim Palace, Roy Cox, is the first guest to join Season Two of the Estate Matters podcast.

Roy, along with host Anna Byles and KOR's Senior Public Affairs Consultant, Andrew Howard, discuss the reasons behind the Estate's proposed solar farm at Botley West in Oxfordshire.

Roy explains how the rigid planning process governing nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) prevented Blenheim adopting its usual proactive approach to communication with the local community, and subsequently what that meant for its reputation and relationships with its community and stakeholders.

https://www.blenheimpalace.com/estate/

Michael Birnie (Property Director) and Sarah White (Head of Learning Programmes Development) from The Ernest Cook Trust, discuss how the management of the nine estates that make up the land holdings of the charity, is carried out with a clear focus on the Trust’s primary purpose as providers of outdoor learning.
Michael describes the challenges of explaining that the Trust has charitable objects, but that those activities are funded by the land and property in its care.
Sarah gives a first hand account of the impact outdoor learning can have on those who experience it, through direct-delivery on Trust land, and through grant schemes.

Molly Biddell is the Head of Natural Capital at Knepp Estate and Nature Based Solutions Manager at Hampton Estate.
In this episode she explains how food production and caring for the natural world are inextricably linked – but that it will take a cultural shift in the countryside to change the way many farmers and land managers view their role.

Nicola Janus-Harris, Head of Agriculture and Rural Estates at international law firm Trowers and Hamlins, explains why ongoing reputation management is important to her clients.
She tells podcast host Anna Byles how she has seen it go "horrifically wrong" for clients, when misinformation has spread on social media.
Nicola says having a communications plan now forms part of her initial conversations with clients who are embarking on projects.