Urban Forecast

Is renting the future of housing in the UK? In this episode of Urban Forecast, we sit down with Michael Keaveney, Director of Land and Development at Grainger PLC, to explore the evolution of Build to Rent (BTR) and its impact on the housing market. From navigating planning challenges to the sustainability debate, Michael shares his insights on where the sector is heading, the role of investors, and whether BTR can truly help solve the UK’s housing crisis.

We also discuss the 'Goldilocks zone' for BTR viability, why placemaking is critical to long-term success, and the policy changes that could make or break the industry’s growth. Whether you're an investor, developer, or simply interested in the future of housing, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

Key Takeaways:

Build to Rent is here to stay – BTR has grown significantly in recent years, but challenges remain in scaling it to meet demand.

The ‘Goldilocks’ principle – BTR only works in locations where land costs and rental income align, making it viable in some areas but not others.

Sustainability is a renter’s concern—up to a point – Operational energy costs matter, but embodied carbon remains low on the priority list for tenants.

The importance of placemaking – BTR developments thrive when they integrate well with their surroundings and contribute to local communities.

Policy and investment are crucial – Government subsidies, planning reform, and investor confidence all shape the future of the sector.

COVID-19 accelerated the rise of BTR – Lockdowns highlighted the importance of quality rental housing with strong amenities.

Tenant expectations are evolving – More renters are considering EPC ratings and total cost of living when choosing a home.

Subsidy is essential for affordable housing – Without increased government support, BTR alone won’t solve the UK’s housing crisis.

Best Moments (Quotes):

“COVID-19 really proved the value of Build to Rent – people started to understand why quality rental housing matters.”

“If you get placemaking wrong, your development won’t work – it has to feel like part of the community, not just a block of flats.”

“The reality is, you can’t have subsidised housing without subsidy – social rent needs serious government support.”

“There’s a ‘Goldilocks’ zone for Build to Rent – too expensive, and it doesn’t stack up. Too cheap, and it won’t get built.”

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Ackroyd Lowrie

Grainger PLC

EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT

Modernise or Die: the hard truths about MMC and housing delivery

How ESG can make you money and help the planet with Andy Cox

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Jon Ackroyd and Oliver Lowrie, the visionary hosts of Urban Forecast, bring their expertise from leading their innovative practice, Ackroyd Lowrie. Known for pushing the boundaries in urban design, Jon and Oliver use their podcast to delve into the future of cities, sharing insights from their work on projects that emphasise sustainability, community, and transformative architecture. Through Urban Forecast, they engage listeners with discussions on how architecture and design shape urban living, aiming to inspire new ways of thinking about the spaces around us.

CONNECT & CONTACT

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Email: [email protected]

Chris Williamson is Chairman of the board at Weston Williamson + Partners which he founded in 1985.
Chris was recently the International Vice President of the RIBA responsible for setting a strategy to grow into a global membership institution and to encourage more UK architects to seek work globally, and is running for RIBA President at the moment.
This episode covers how one book changed his life and took him from a rural midlands village to running a successful London-based practice with his business partner for 40 years, before selling the business last year.
The episode also covers Chris’ opinion on the challenges that the industry faces, and the changing role of the architect in a rapidly changing world.

In this episode of Urban Forecast, we sit down with Kelly Alvarez Doran, Co-founder and CEO of Half Climate Design, to discuss the crucial role of embodied carbon in architecture. Kelly shares insights from his career, from working in mining to leading sustainable projects in Rwanda, exploring the choices architects make and their far-reaching impact. We dive into why current regulations are stifling low-carbon construction, how embodied and operational carbon should be viewed together, and what needs to change to make truly sustainable building practices mainstream.
Key Takeaways
1. Embodied vs. Operational Carbon – It is not an either-or debate. Both must be considered over a building’s lifetime.
2. The Scale of Architectural Impact – A single design decision, such as a foundation for a residential project, can have the carbon equivalent of driving a car for 60 years.
3. Lessons from Rwanda – Working in a context where materials are expensive but labour is abundant offers a completely different design approach, freeing architects to be more innovative.
4. UK Regulations Are Holding Us Back – Post-Grenfell fire safety rules have inadvertently made it harder to use lower-carbon materials like timber, despite these materials not being involved in the disaster.
5. Architects' Agency in Sustainability – While building regulations are restrictive, architects still have influence over material choices, and even small decisions can make a difference.
6. The Role of Education – Training architects and builders to understand the full carbon impact of their decisions is crucial for real change.
7. The Future of Sustainable Building – Countries like Denmark have embraced whole-life carbon policies, setting an example for others to follow.
8. Rethinking Materials – The construction industry relies too heavily on high-carbon materials like aluminium when lower-impact alternatives exist.
Best Moments
1. "One design decision I made for a foundation had the same carbon impact as driving a car for 60 years."
2. "Once you see embodied carbon, it is hard to unsee it."
3. "The irony is that post-Grenfell regulations have made it harder to build with sustainable materials that were not even involved in the fire."
4. "Architects are like chefs who do not think about the slaughterhouse – we specify materials without truly considering where they come from or their impact."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Ackroyd Lowrie - https://www.ackroydlowrie.com
Half Climate Design - https://halfclimatedesign.com/
Jon Ackroyd - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jonackroyd
Oliver Lowrie - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-lowrie/?original_referer=&originalSubdomain=uk
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Jon Ackroyd and Oliver Lowrie, the visionary hosts of Urban Forecast, bring their expertise from leading their innovative practice, Ackroyd Lowrie. Known for pushing the boundaries in urban design, Jon and Oliver use their podcast to delve into the future of cities, sharing insights from their work on projects that emphasise sustainability, community, and transformative architecture. Through Urban Forecast, they engage listeners with discussions on how architecture and design shape urban living, aiming to inspire new ways of thinking about the spaces around us.
CONNECT & CONTACT
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ackroydlowrie/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/ackroyd-lowrie/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/discover/urbanforecast
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@UrbanForecast
Email: [email protected]

Mete Coban’s passion for giving young people a voice stems from his own experiences growing up in Hackney. Listen to this episode to hear about his inspiring journey; born in an estate in Hackney, and now Cabinet Member for Energy, Waste, Transport and Public Realm.

He was the youngest ever elected Councillor in the London borough of Hackney, he has been implementing the Climate Emergency Plan in the London Borough of Hackney, introducing the most radical transport plan in London, as well as green grants and a pioneering Community Energy Fund.

As Chief Executive of My Life My Say, Mete is best known for contributing to the increase of turnout for young people at the 2017 and 2019 UK General Elections.

In the New Years 2020 honours list, Mete received an MBE for services to young people recognising his efforts to make politics more accessible for the younger generation.

In this fascinating episode, Mete talks us through how the challenges of his childhood have empowered him as a young leader to seek out a voice for young people.

In this insightful episode, we delve into the complexities of carbon emissions within the construction industry. Our guest, Gilbert Lennox King, CEO and co-founder of Construction Carbon, shares his mission to simplify carbon management for developers. We explore the crucial distinction between embodied and operational carbon, the drivers behind the growing focus on embodied carbon, and innovative financial incentives for sustainable development. Discover how Construction Carbon is helping developers and funders forecast, track, and reduce their carbon footprint, and gain valuable insights into the future of sustainable construction.
Key Takeaways
● Embodied carbon refers to emissions from the materials and construction processes of a building, while operational carbon is associated with its energy use.
● The importance of embodied carbon is growing as operational emissions decrease due to grid decarbonisation.
● Construction Carbon aims to simplify carbon management for developers by providing tools to forecast, track, and reduce emissions.
● Financial incentives, such as rebates on development loans, are being used to encourage developers to reduce embodied carbon.
● The UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard provides benchmarks and definitions for net zero carbon in construction and operation.
● Measuring and verifying embodied carbon is becoming increasingly important for reporting to voluntary frameworks and for due diligence.
● There are differing views on the role of timber in reducing embodied carbon, particularly regarding the accounting of carbon sequestration.
● The industry is working towards better integration of various standards and data to improve building sustainability.
Best Moments
● "It's not that complicated really."
● "Sometimes it's not that nice to run your company either."
● "We're on a mission to try and make carbon simpler for developers."
● "You could build the most energy-efficient building in the world and fly in the materials from coal-fired factories and nobody would actually care about that upstream emissions, whereas now I think there's sort of broader recognition that you need to look at the whole life of a building."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Jon Ackroyd - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jonackroyd
Oliver Lowrie - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-lowrie/?original_referer=&originalSubdomain=uk
EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT
The Future of Sustainable Design with Kelly Alvarez Doran
Is the Future of Housing Rental? With Michael Keaveney from Grainger PLC
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Jon Ackroyd and Oliver Lowrie, the visionary hosts of Urban Forecast, bring their expertise from leading their innovative practice, Ackroyd Lowrie. Known for pushing the boundaries in urban design, Jon and Oliver use their podcast to delve into the future of cities, sharing insights from their work on projects that emphasise sustainability, community, and transformative architecture. Through Urban Forecast, they engage listeners with discussions on how architecture and design shape urban living, aiming to inspire new ways of thinking about the spaces around us.
CONNECT & CONTACT
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ackroydlowrie/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/ackroyd-lowrie/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/discover/urbanforecast
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@UrbanForecast
Email: [email protected]