In this episode Paul answers your questions about current trends in property design, the balance between creativity and functionality, and the impact of technology on future developments. Paul discusses the influence of modern methods of construction and sustainability on design aesthetics, highlighting the importance of collaboration between developers and local authorities in the planning process. KEY TAKEAWAYS Design Trends in Property Development: Current design trends are influenced by modern methods of construction (MMC) and sustainability, leading to a mix of innovative and sometimes box-like aesthetics. Smaller developers often excel in creating well-designed properties due to their focus on niche sites. Balancing Creativity and Functionality: Successful property development starts with functionality, ensuring that buildings meet market needs and provide pleasant living conditions. While creativity is important, it must be balanced with practicality to avoid costly mistakes during construction. Collaboration with Planning Authorities: Developers should work collaboratively with local planning authorities to navigate the complexities of planning applications. Understanding the pressures faced by planners can help foster a more cooperative relationship, ultimately leading to smoother approvals. De-risking Projects: To mitigate risks in property development, it is crucial to add value before starting a project, such as securing off-market opportunities and conducting thorough research on site constraints. This proactive approach can create a buffer against unforeseen challenges. Sustainability Challenges: Building sustainably often comes with higher costs, which can be a significant barrier. As regulations evolve and sustainable practices become more mainstream, the industry may find more cost-effective methods to achieve high sustainability standards. BEST MOMENTS "One of the things I personally actually don't like about a lot of modular and MMC stuff is you can tell that that's what it is... when it's not done well does look very box-like." "The best developers, in my opinion, they are super knowledgeable, they want to do good stuff, and they are really, really into architecture and design." "Persimmon, not good. Everything that's bad about property development and house building, in my opinion." "We need to make things as easy as humanly possible for local authority planners and for planning departments." "The more knowledge, skill and expertise and the better professional team you've got, the better decisions you will be able to make." 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 multimillion-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: ⁠  / paul-higgs⁠   Millbank Land Academy: ⁠https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk⁠ Instagram - ⁠  / paulhiggsofficial⁠   YouTube - ⁠   / @insidepropertydevelopment   This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠