Join Andy Cox, Director and co-founder of Trigon, who brings his expertise in real estate and sustainable development to the conversation. He shares his unconventional journey from karaoke to construction and emphasizes that sustainability is essential, not optional. Explore the challenges of navigating increased regulations, the risk of stranded assets, and how developers are adapting to rising ESG expectations. Plus, hear predictions for the future of urban planning and housing in an ever-changing landscape.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Karaoke Career Start
Andy Cox's career began unexpectedly at a karaoke night.
A friend's father, after a few drinks, offered him a job in engineering.
insights INSIGHT
ESG vs. Sustainability
ESG and sustainability are often conflated, but ESG has broader facets.
It includes governance and social value, not just technical elements.
insights INSIGHT
ESG as Resilience
ESG is crucial for long-term asset resilience, not just short-term gains.
It protects value, reduces operational costs, and improves market positioning.
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In this episode of Urban Forecast, we sit down with Andy Cox, Director & Co-founder of Trigon, to discuss the evolving landscape of development management, ESG, and the Building Safety Act. Andy shares his journey into real estate, the challenges of navigating increasing regulation, and why sustainability must be more than a compliance exercise.
With discussions around risk management, stranded assets, and the impact of regulation on development, this episode is a must-listen for anyone in the property, construction, or investment sectors.
Are we drowning in legislation, or can we carve out a clearer path forward? Tune in to find out.
Key Takeaways:
From karaoke to construction – Andy’s unconventional route into real estate and why people, not just projects, fuel his passion.
The real impact of ESG – Why sustainability isn’t just a ‘nice-to-have’ but essential for asset resilience.
Regulation overload? – The tension between economic growth and increasing legal constraints in the UK property market.
The risk of stranded assets – How developers are adapting to maintain asset value amid rising ESG expectations.
Building Safety Act realities – What’s working, what’s not, and why clarity is key for the industry.
Procurement evolution – Are we heading towards a new hybrid model of development and construction management?
A housing market in limbo – Can planning reform, increased housing targets, and viability challenges ever align?
What’s next? – Predictions for 2025 and beyond—will we see real progress, or are we in for another year of uncertainty?
Best Moments (Quotes):
“Sustainability shouldn’t be a bolt-on. It needs to be woven into everything we do.” – Andy Cox
“We’ve got the accelerator on and the brake on at the same time. No wonder the industry is stalling.” – Oli
“The Building Safety Act has changed the definition of compliance - it’s no longer about ticking a box.” – Andy Cox
“If we want certainty in the market, we need to distill regulation - not just keep adding more.” – Jon
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Ackroyd Lowrie - https://www.ackroydlowrie.com/
Trigon - https://trigon-dm.com/about/
EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT
The Architect who entered politics - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmrNRTM5HKk
Modernise or Die: the hard truths about MMC and housing delivery - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW4N6hDk5i4
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.
Urban Forecast