Urban Forecast
Business & Finance
About
The show where Ackroyd Lowrie's co-founder and director, Oliver Lowrie talks to the people defining the future of our cities. Discussing their background, what drives them and the insights they have learnt along the way. This is a show for investors, developers, planners, consultants and anyone who is interested in how we will work, live and play in the cities of the future and what that means for the property market today.
Episodes
- Peter Murray OBE: Why London Needs a New Vision
In this episode of Urban Forecast, Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd sit down with Peter Murray OBE, one of the most influential voices in British architecture and urbanism. As co-founder of New London Architecture and former chairman of The Lond…
- Steve Watts: The Real Cost of Building London’s Skyline
In this episode of Urban Forecast , Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd sit down with Steve Watts, London-based cost consultant and Global Chair of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). Steve shares a rare behind-the-scenes persp…
- Mike Reader MP on Fixing Britain’s Housing System
Urban Forecast welcomes Mike Reader, British Labour Party politician and Member of Parliament, for a candid conversation on the realities of delivering change in the UK’s built environment. Drawing on his background in construction and pub…
- Power, Politics and Property with Phineas Harper
Urban Forecast host Oli Lowrie sits down with Phineas Harper, British writer, cultural leader, and Guardian contributor, to unpack the real forces shaping our cities. From the myth that “ordinary people don’t care about architecture” to th…
- The Future of Regenerative Development with Joe Jack Williams
In this episode of Urban Forecast, Oli Lowrie sits down with Joe Jack Williams, Head of Regenerative Strategy at Bywater, to explore the future of low-carbon development, the realities of building in mass timber, and why the industry despe…
- How to unblock the system of community funding with Mark Shearer
Urban Forecast sits down with Mark Shearer, CEO and Co-founder of ActionFunder and a councillor for Westminster. With a rare dual perspective spanning politics, community impact and the built environment, Mark breaks down the staggering in…
- The 1 Percent Housing Trap with Chris Worrall
In this episode of Urban Forecast, Oli sits down with Chris Worrall, Director at LSL Partners, for a frank and fast-paced conversation about the realities of the UK housing crisis. Chris dismantles common myths around land, planning and de…
- Why London Stopped Building with Nick Cuff
In this episode of Urban Forecast, co-hosts Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd sit down with Nick Cuff, Managing Director and founder of Urban Sketch, to unpack why London has stopped building and how we can start again. From his beginnings in loc…
- Reclaiming Value in Architecture with Hari Phillips
In this episode of Urban Forecast, co-hosts Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd sit down with Hari Phillips, co-founder of Bell Phillips Architects and Trustee at the Museum of Architecture, for a candid conversation about the realities of the prof…
- Are Architects Being Replaced by AI?
In this episode of Urban Forecast, Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd dive into the unexpected success of their TikTok clip that racked up over 70,000 views and the fiery comments it sparked. From the frustrations of being undervalued in architect…
- Michael Clark’s Take on London’s Development Challenge
In this episode of Urban Forecast, co-hosts Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd sit down with Michael Clark, Design Director at Hadley Property Group, to explore the evolving role of the architect, the realities of development in today’s market, an…
- Labour’s Housing Delivery Crisis: Planning isn’t the Problem
In this episode of Urban Forecast, hosts Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd dive into the outcomes and mood from the Labour Party Conference, exploring what it all means for the future of housing and planning in London. With housebuilding figures…
- The Future of the City of London with Tom Sleigh
In this episode of Urban Forecast, co-hosts Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd are joined by Tom Sleigh, Councillor for Bishopsgate Ward at the City of London Corporation and Chair of the Planning & Transportation Committee. Tom offers an insider’…
- Engineering a Greener Future with Steve Webb
In this episode of Urban Forecast, hosts Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd sit down with Steve Webb, Director of Webb Yates Engineers, at Milieu 134 Old Street, a landmark project by HGG London. Designed around natural materials, Milieu is a work…
- The devastating effect of cars in our cities with Henrietta L. Moore & Arthur Kay
In this episode of Urban Forecast, co-hosts Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd sit down with Professor Dame Henrietta L. Moore, Founder and Director of the Institute for Global Prosperity at UCL, and Arthur Kay, CEO & Founder of Skyroom. Together…
- The Big Opportunity London Can’t Waste with Jace Tyrrell
In this episode of Urban Forecast, Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd are joined by Jace Tyrrell, Chief Executive of Opportunity London. Jace shares how London can stay ahead in the global race for investment, why it matters that the city works to…
- Housing and Regeneration in Tower Hamlets with David Joyce
In this episode of Urban Forecast, co-hosts Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd sit down with David Joyce, Corporate Director of Housing and Regeneration at the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. David shares his insights into the challenges and oppo…
- Biobased construction myths & how the UK can keep up with Europe - Anna Lisa McSweeney
In this episode of Urban Forecast, Oli and Jon are joined by Anna Lisa McSweeney, UK Networks Lead at Built by Nature, a pioneering not-for-profit working to accelerate the shift toward biobased construction materials. With a background in…
- Building Towns from Scratch with James Scott of Urban and Civic
In this episode of Urban Forecast, hosts Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd are joined by James Scott, Group Director of Strategy and Planning at Urban&Civic plc. From Cold War airfields to thriving new communities, James shares his journey throug…
- Reinventing Affordable Living with Paul Rickard, CEO at Pocket Living
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…
- The Future of Inclusive Design and Women in Architecture with Ana McMillin
In this UKREiiF 2025 special episode of Urban Forecast, Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd are joined by Dr Ana McMillin, Director of Architecture at Broadway Malyan, steering committee member of Women in Architecture, and executive member of the…
- Inside Brent’s Regeneration Project with Alice Lester
In this special UKREiiF 2025 edition of Urban Forecast, co-hosts Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd sit down with Alice Lester, Director for Neighbourhoods and Regeneration at Brent Council. Alice shares her journey from a geography student fascin…
- Harlow’s Regeneration Comeback | How Harlow Delivers More Homes with Cllr Dan Swords
In this UKREiiF 2025 special of Urban Forecast, hosts Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd sit down with Cllr Dan Swords, Leader of Harlow Council, to explore how bold leadership, effective partnerships and a focus on people are driving one of the U…
- Building Fairer Cities with Cllr Claire Holland
In this special UKREiiF 2025 edition of Urban Forecast, co-hosts Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd sit down with Cllr Claire Holland, Leader of the London Borough of Lambeth and Chair of London Councils. From the urgent need for affordable housin…
- Is UKREiiF better than Mipim? Did Keir Starmer try to ruin it?
In this special debrief episode of Urban Forecast, co-hosts Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd reflect on the highs and lows of UKREiiF 2025 in Leeds. They explore the atmosphere, key themes and industry sentiment fresh from the event, comparing i…
- Why Places Fail - and How to Build Ones That Don’t with Martyn Evans
In this episode of Urban Forecast, co-hosts Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd sit down with Martyn Evans, Creative Director at Landsec, to explore how developers can create meaningful and enduring places, not just buildings. Martyn shares the sto…
- How the Building Safety Act Is Changing Everything - Varun Soni
In this episode of Urban Forecast, Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd sit down with Varun Soni, Director at The Property Smart Group, to unravel the complexities of the Building Safety Act and the Golden Thread. Varun shares hard-hitting insights…
- Global Challenges, Local Solutions for Architects – with Gary McLuskey
In this episode of Urban Forecast, co-hosts Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd sit down with Gary McLuskey, Greystar’s Managing Director of Global Design, to explore the evolving role of architects in development. From policy barriers to internati…
- Its Placeshaping, not place making - John Stiles, London Borough of Brent
Podcast Description What really makes a place thrive? In this episode of Urban Forecast, we sit down with John Stiles, Placemaking Manager at the London Borough of Brent, to unpack the complexities of urban change and regeneration. John sh…
- The Real Costs and Benefits of the Urban Forecast Podcast
In this reflective episode of Urban Forecast, Jon and Oli unpack the real reasons behind launching their podcast — from the significant investment of time and money, to the unexpected returns in thought leadership, professional development…
- Leading with purpose - Chris Williamson RIBA President Elect
In this episode of Urban Forecast, we’re joined by Chris Williamson, co-founder of Weston Williamson + Partners, as he reflects on 40 years in architecture - from his unexpected pivot into the profession, to the evolution of his practice,…
- Smart Cities, Climate Risks, and Autonomous Cars | The Future of Urban Living
Welcome to Urban Forecast! In this special episode, Oli and Jon answer questions submitted by listeners, diving into bold predictions about the future of cities by 2050. They discuss the impact of climate change, the role of autonomous veh…
- Why architects must build more than buildings to survive - leadership and profile with Alex Ely
In this episode of Urban Forecast, we sit down with Alex Ely, Founding Director of Mæ to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing architects today. From navigating procurement hurdles to finding a unique voice in the industry, we ex…
- The Timber Ban | UK Regulations Killing Innovation & Blocking Net Zero?
Are the UK’s building regulations stalling progress towards net zero? In this episode of Urban Forecast, we discuss how current policies and industry fears are limiting the use of sustainable materials like timber. From towering timber str…
- The Future of Sustainable Construction
In this insightful episode, we delve into the complexities of carbon emissions within the construction industry. Our guest, Gilbert Lennox King, CEO and co-founder of Construction Carbon, shares his mission to simplify carbon management fo…
- The Future of Sustainable Design with Kelly Alvarez Doran
In this episode of Urban Forecast, we sit down with Kelly Alvarez Doran, Co-founder and CEO of Half Climate Design, to discuss the crucial role of embodied carbon in architecture. Kelly shares insights from his career, from working in mini…
- Why attend MIPIM | Is the largest event in Real Estate worth it?
In this special episode of Urban Forecast Podcast, we’re diving into the buzz of MIPIM – the global real estate event in Cannes. We discuss why we attend, how it compares to UKREiiF, and the evolving landscape of networking in the industry…
- How RIBA should spend £85 million on the Architect industry
RIBA is set to spend £85 million on refurbishing its London HQ - but could that money be better spent elsewhere? In this episode of Urban Forecast, we debate how those funds could be used to truly benefit the architectural profession. From…
- Is the Future of Housing Rental? With Michael Keaveney from Grainger PLC
Is renting the future of housing in the UK? In this episode of Urban Forecast , we sit down with Michael Keaveney, Director of Land and Development at Grainger PLC, to explore the evolution of Build to Rent (BTR) and its impact on the hous…
- How ESG can make you money and help the planet with Andy Cox
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 cha…
- The Architect who entered politics
In this special episode, Urban Forecast Podcast teams up with Architects for Change to explore the intersection of politics, architecture, and urban regeneration. Jay Morton, Director at Bell Phillips and former political candidate, joins…
- Modernise or Die: the hard truths about MMC and housing delivery
In this episode of the Urban Forecast Podcast, we’re joined by Mark Farmer, influential author of Modernise or Die and a leading voice in the housing industry. Mark dives into the hard truths about the future of housing delivery, exploring…
- Vision 2040: What next for the City of London’s bold vision for transformation
In this episode of Urban Forecast by Ackroyd Lowrie, we speak to Shravan Joshi, MBA, Chair of the Planning and Transportation Committee at the City of London Corporation. Shravan discusses the transformative Vision 2040 framework, which re…
- Housing Crisis: Local Leaders, Bold Solutions
In this episode of Urban Forecast by Ackroyd Lowrie, we talk to Jack Shaw, councillor at Barking and Dagenham and senior advisor at Labour Together. Jack shares his journey from an unexpected start in politics to becoming a key voice in ho…
- Labour reacts to the budget: can we deliver £1.5m homes? With Cllr Anthony Okereke, Leader of Greenwich Council and Cllr Jack Shaw
DESCRIPTION Join us in this compelling episode of Urban Forecast by Ackroyd Lowrie, as we sit down with Anthony Okereke, leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, and Jack Shaw, councillor at Barking and Dagenham. Together, they share thei…
- Changes to the Property Industry with Planning Expert Danielle St Pierre
In this episode, Urban Forecast explores the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) with Danielle St Pierre, co-founder of Hybrid Planning and Development. Covering critical topics like brownfield regeneration, grey belt opportuniti…
- Mark Baigent: Local matters when it comes to Housing Delivery
In this episode of Urban Forecast, hosts Oliver Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd sit down with Mark Baigent, Corporate Director of Regeneration and Culture at Redbridge Council, to explore his extensive career in housing delivery and urban regenerat…
- Urban Co-living Part 3: Reimagining the city with Damien Sharkey, MD of HUB.
In the third episode of our series on Co-Living, we sit down with Damien Sharkey, Managing Director of HUB, to explore how his background as an Architect allows him and the team at HUB to re-imagine the urban environment to provide high qu…
- Urban Co-Living Part 2: The Future of Co-Living with Jenna Harris
In the final part of our series on Urban Co-Living, we welcome Jenna Harris, Head of Co-Living and Co-Founder of Harris Studios at Harris Associates. Jenna shares her expert insights and innovative ideas on the evolving world of co-living.…
- Urban Co-Living Part 1: Community, Connection, and the Future of Housing
Welcome to our special three-part series on the emerging co-living sector. In this series, we explore how co-living is transforming urban living and addressing critical societal issues. In our first episode, we sit down with Brent Stojanov…