In the final episode recorded at UKREiiF 2025, co-hosts Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd sit down with Paul Rickard, CEO of Pocket Living, to explore bold housing innovation in London. Paul brings a finance-savvy lens to the pressing challenges facing SME developers, explains why Pocket homes defy their compact dimensions, and outlines what is needed from policymakers to truly unlock urban affordability. With insights into planning, politics, risk and design, this is a compelling end to the UKREiiF series, and it champions the citymakers behind our cities.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Finance fluency matters: Paul explains how his financial background helps balance entrepreneurial drive with disciplined risk-taking, which is vital in today’s volatile market.
SMEs under pressure: With 4,000 construction insolvencies annually, SME developers like Pocket face vastly different funding and risk environments compared to housing associations.
The Pocket model: Offering discounted one-bedroom homes for first-time buyers, Pocket focuses on key workers who keep the city running but are priced out of it.
Not your average one-bed: Despite being 37 square metres, Pocket homes are carefully designed to feel spacious, challenging perceptions of small-scale housing.
Built-in community: From WhatsApp groups to rooftop parties, Pocket does not just deliver housing, it helps residents build social connections from day one.
Innovation is hard: Paul says more developers should innovate, but acknowledges the regulatory, funding and cultural hurdles that make it difficult.
Planning and perception: Pocket’s model has gradually gained acceptance from planners through persistent education and mission clarity.
Rental is next: Pocket is expanding into high-quality rental housing with a similar ethos, targeting affordability, longevity and community.
BEST MOMENTS
“People that buy our homes have a lot in common… You go in already knowing your neighbours. That’s community from day one.”
“If local authorities want their nurses, teachers, police officers to stay, this is the answer.”
“We've spent 20 years making sure this doesn’t feel like a compact home.”
“I wish there were more people innovating. It can’t just be Pocket.”
VALUABLE RESOURCES
https://www.ackroydlowrie.com
https://www.pocketliving.com
EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT
The Future of Inclusive Design and Women in Architecture with Ana McMillin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANwoBM3PQAM
Inside Brent’s Regeneration Project with Alice Lester
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGRh8HgX0to
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: info@ackroydlowrie.com
