Can collaboration really solve the housing crisis? seasoned property developer and industry expert Paul Higgs explores the challenges facing SME developers, housebuilders, and planners — and why the confrontational nature of the industry must change if we’re to create better homes and more sustainable communities. With over 40 years’ experience in land, planning, and development, Paul shares candid insights into the complex planning system, the decline of SME developers, and the urgent need for joined-up thinking across all sectors of the housing industry. If you’re interested in understanding what’s really holding back development — and how collaboration can unlock new opportunities — this episode is a must-listen. KEY TAKEAWAYS The housing and affordability crisis can’t be solved in isolation — collaboration is essential. The property development industry has been too confrontational; cooperation between stakeholders is crucial. SME developers and smaller housebuilders are declining, partly due to planning complexity. The Millbank Land Academy Scorecard helps developers assess and improve their processes. Sustainable housing requires developers, planners, and policymakers to work together rather than in opposition. BEST MOMENTS “We all need to understand property development from every angle — not just our own.” “The industry has become confrontational, and that’s stopping us from creating the homes people need.” “If SME developers can’t survive the planning system, we’ll lose a huge part of the housing supply chain.” “The only way we’ll solve the housing crisis is by working together.” ABOUT THE HOST  Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years' experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents. Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multi-million-pound, award-winning property development company, Millbank Group. In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know!  Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University.   CONTACT METHOD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs Millbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/