This is the 1.5M New Homes Project, sponsored by Redloft.

Each month, journalist Toby Fox will be visiting a different council around England to ask what they think about the Government's pledge to get 1.5 Million New Homes built.

So Subscribe to this feed and stay tuned to hear from councils around the country on what works, and what doesn't, in getting homes built

Welcome to the 1.5M New Homes project sponsored by Red Loft

Each month, journalist Toby Fox will be visiting different councils around the UK to ask what they think about the government's pledge to get 1.5 million new homes built.

For November 2024 we are visiting Slough, and in this episode Toby is talking with Pat Hayes, Executive Director Regeneration, Housing and Environment about the ingredients for the successful delivery of new homes.

Production Information

Founding Sponsor - Red Loft

Host - Toby Fox

On-set production & video editing - Sam Underwood

Podcast and audio production - Drew Toynbee

Project Coordination - Sophie Barker

Slough could be a big part of solving London's housing challenge, its housing delivery team believes. "Positionally and spatially it's absolutely marvellous; in population terms it's marvellous,” says Exec Director Pat Hayes. “And there's huge development opportunity: places with cleared brownfield sites, lots of space in the town centre, a massive opportunity in the industrial estate around Heathrow. So everything is going for Slough and the challenge is why it hasn't quite happened, and what we need to do to make it happen."

Exactly.

That's why we visited one of the borough's stalled town centre sites, to see what needs to change for Slough to deliver more homes. We cover CPOs, inexpert landlords, government trust in councils, a new use class for affordable homes, more flexible grant funding, a restrictive regulatory framework and much more.

And if you'd like to share your own experiences of some of the issues raised, join our livestream on Friday 29th November 13:30-14:30 on Microsoft Teams. Find the sign up link on our socials:

Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes

Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes

LinkedIn- @1-5m-new-homes

TikTok- @1.5mnewhomes

Many thanks to our founding sponsors Red Loft.

In this episode, Pat Hayes talks us through his unorthodox career path, the motivations and core skill set driving his progress, and the learning he has picked up on the way. He describes his mentors and influences, his understanding of what people want from Local Authorities, and the challenges of working under financial pressures.

Identifying the abilities most useful in progressing a public sector housing career, Pat says: "It’s about dealing with people and negotiating and influencing, being able to formulate an idea and respond to changing circumstances, working creatively around rules and assumptions. You've got to have a creative mindset to think ‘how do we get the right outcome, rather than [just] following the process’."

Don't forget to like and subscribe and follow our socials to stay up to date with the latest content:

Instagram- @1.5mnewhomes

Facebook- @1.5mnewhomes

LinkedIn- @1-5m-new-homes

TikTok- @1.5mnewhomes

Many thanks to our founding sponsors Red Loft

Host - Toby Fox

Audio Production - Drew Toynbee

Video Production - Sam Underwood

Production Support - Sophie Barker, Red Loft