What Next For London?

This episode is our first Place Commission special, talking to John Mulryan, Group Managing Director of Ballymore and a Place Commissioner, about how he sees the future evolution of the capital’s built environment as we look ahead to the future. Listen in for his take on what changing patterns of work, travel and social activity might mean for the city.

Virginia Blackman, national head of Avison Young’s Site Assembly and Compulsory Purchase team, talks to us about Avison Young’s Cities Recovery Index and what it is telling us just over two years on from the first lockdown. Taking a look at retail, leisure, footfall and office occupancy trends, Virginia shares what this emerging picture might mean for how we live and work in the city in the future.

We spoke to Paul Barnes, CEO of the Association for International Retail, about the sector’s potential to play a major role in the capital and the UK’s recovery. We touched on what needs to happen now to make that possible, from reinstating tax free shopping for international visitors, to putting shopping into the country’s tourism strategy.

London First CEO John Dickie and CEO of Grosvenor Property UK James Raynor discuss the role of the capital in the country's future success, the role for the built environment in recovery and the future of work.

We spoke to Arup’s Richard de Cani and Cathy Li about the new report, London Alive, and how the capital’s public spaces could be reimagined for a post-pandemic future. We were joined by the Northbank BID’s Alison Gregory, who shared her perspective on the evolution of Waterloo Bridge and Charing Cross, as well as the wider role of the Northbank in the city’s renewal.

Laura Osborne and Mark Hilton spoke to Charles Oak, Hotel Director of the Londoner, a new super-boutique hotel in the heart of the capital. From opening a new 16-storey hotel in uncertain times, through to the importance of its art collection and cultural contribution, Charles shares the highs and lows of bringing this new iconic destination to the capital.

We spoke to Michele Pittini, Head of GLA Economics, and Graeme Smith and Lee Watson, Managing Directors, London at Alix Partners, on the current picture of London’s recovery, what new data sources are needed to make this more accurate, how the city’s businesses are responding to the unwinding of government support measures, the impact of disrupted supply chains and the importance of planning ahead now.

To mark 20 years of the leadership exchange, we are pleased to share this new podcast with Lord Davies and James Stokley, who were paired up via the scheme which brings business and public sector leaders together. Mervyn and James share what they’ve learnt in their very different successful careers, how they see leadership today and the value of grasping opportunities when they arise.

Lisa Mayhew is the co-chair of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP), an international law firm. She spoke to Mel Hobson and Laura Osborne about the need for consistent messages, the importance of the Government boosting confidence and what the future of work might look like, informed by lessons learnt over the last 18 months. Lisa reflects on the purpose of the office, what work is best done where and the role employers play in their local communities. Lisa also shares how the pandemic has shaped her personal approach to leadership and what she’s changed during that time.

DAC Beachcroft Senior Partner Virginia Clegg spoke to London First’s Mel Hobson and Laura Osborne on the difference between emerging short-term work patterns and the longer-term future of work and cities. Virginia shared her experience of leading an international firm through a pandemic, as well as explaining why the firm adopted its Flex Forward initiative. The future is flexible – Virginia gives her take on why.