Episodes

Shanika is the first Asian woman and youngest ever councillor to join the Cabinet in Milton Keynes (initially as a Cabinet Member for the Economy). She previously worked in Sir Kier Starmer’s politics team, improving campaigning and focussing on increasing diversity in our elected representatives.

Marvin Rees is a Labour Party politician who served as the Mayor of Bristol from 2016 to 2024 and became a life peer in February 2025. He has a background in public health, journalism, and social justice advocacy.

Our Special Guest this week is Florence Eshalomi, Labour (Co-op) MP for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green and is the current Chair of the MHCLG Select Committee. The Committee scrutinises the policy, administration and spending of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. It is made up of MPs from across the House of Commons.

Elsie is a founding member and the first chair of the Society of Black Architects. Her projects include the U.K. Supreme Court and Green Park tube station.  She has been an elected RIBA Council member since 2014, a vice-chair of the London School of Architecture, and a Royal Academician. She was recently part of the Radix Big Tent Housing Commission.

Our Special Guest this week is Lord Ben Gascoigne, Chair of the Built Environment Committee in the House of Lords. The Built Environment Committee was appointed to consider matters relating to the built environment, including policies relating to housing, planning, transport and infrastructure.

Our Special Guest this week, returning for a fourth time, is Joanna Averley, Chief Planner at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. We ask Joanna about the current and pending reforms to planning law and policy.

Our Special Guest this week is Jason Prior, Chief Executive of Prior and Partners. Prior and Partners integrate masterplanning, planning and economics to unlock the potential of places and communities around the globe.

Victoria joined the RTPI in April 2018 and has 20 years’ experience and expertise in planning, transport and organisational leadership and development. Victoria joins us to talk about the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Our Special Guest this week is Níall McLaughlin RA. Níall is Professor of Architectural Practice at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London.

Our Special Guest this week is Lord Ben Houchen, Mayor of the Tees Valley, to discuss the English Devolution White Paper published by MHCLG before Christmas. The proposal gives Mayors new responsibilities for strategic planning and much more.