Willmott Dixon: Building knowledge: Recent Episodes
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This is a recording of a panel session held in the Willmott Dixon pavilion at UKREiiF 2026. Our expert panel explored how the Standard will reshape how buildings are designed, delivered and operated. This session shared insights from a live pilot project, including technical challenges, performance monitoring and customer perspectives.
The panel featured:
- Francesca Wilkinson, Senior Sustainability Manager at Willmott Dixon
- Katie Clemence-Jackson, CEO at UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard
- Richard Bowen-Ling, Head of Programme Delivery - Sustainable Communities for Learning at Welsh Government
- Chris Williamson, President at RIBA
This is a recording of a panel session held in the Willmott Dixon pavilion at UKREiiF 2026. Our panel of experts explored how the UK office market is responding to changing occupier demands, ageing building stock and ambitious sustainability targets, focusing on the key considerations that influence decisions to refurbish, reposition or replace existing offices.
The panel featured:
- Adam Worrall, Managing Director at Willmott Dixon Interiors
- Jane Hunt, Interim Chief Investment Officer at Government Property Agency
- Jon Gardiner, Director – Strategic Development Leasing Advisory at Savills
- Jack Pringle, Chair of the Board at RIBA
- Saul Tyler, Director and Sector Lead – Workplace at Hoare Lea and
Head of BCO’s Technical Affairs Committee
This is a recording of a panel session held in the Willmott Dixon pavilion at UKREiiF 2026. Universities need faster, high‑quality student accommodation. Our expert panel explored how models like DBFO can attract investment, manage risk and support sustainable campus growth.
The panel featured:
- Matthew Knight, National Head of Land and Development at Willmott Dixon Developments
- Ian Prescott, Managing Director at HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions (UK) & (Irl) Ltd
- Sally McGill BA MA FCA, Chief Finance Officer at University of the Arts London
This is a recording of a panel session held in the Willmott Dixon pavilion at UKREiiF 2026. We were joined by NHS and industry voices to discuss the Neighbourhood Health Rebuild including delivery models, funding and decarbonisation, and how partnership‑led approaches can upgrade facilities at pace.
The panel featured:
- Chris Wheeler, National Head of Land and Development at Willmott Dixon Developments
- Hugh Robinson, Development Director at gbpartnerships
- Ollie Clarke, Director of Capital at NHS England
- Sarah Beaumont-Smith, Chair at the Neighbourhood Health Forum
- Simon Corben, Director and Head of Profession at NHS Estates and Facilities
- Kelly Crews, Head of Decarbonisation at Willmott Dixon
In this episode, we explore the vital role transport plays in driving social change and supporting thriving, inclusive communities.
Our Framework Manager, Emily Braim, sat down with Simon Warburton, Executive Director for Transport at West Yorkshire Combined Authority, to explore the link between transport and social infrastructure.
Simon shares national insights from his role as Director at Urban Transport Group, as well how this translates into regional priorities in his role at West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
This is a recording of a panel session held in the Willmott Dixon pavilion at UKREiiF 2025.
Our experts were joined by representatives from the Cabinet Office and Homes England to discuss how public-private partnerships can unlock funding for regeneration and decarbonisation.
The panel featured:
- David Atkinson - National Head of Land and Development at Willmott Dixon
- Jane Anderson - Head of ESG Investment at Homes England
- Kelly Crews - Head of Decarbonisation at Willmott Dixon
- Lynda Rawsthorne - Head of Government Property Profession at Cabinet Office
Together, they explored practical funding solutions, the role of heat networks, and how strategic investments can create sustainable, vibrant places.
This is a recording of a presentation delivered in the Willmott Dixon pavilion at UKREiiF 2025. In this presentation, Jo Weston, National Product Manager, shares insights into the Building Safety Act.
In a world of shifting legislation, she explores strategies to maintain compliance, future-proof assets and limit disruption
This is a recording of a panel session held in the Willmott Dixon pavilion at UKREiiF 2025. Passivhaus delivers comfort, lowers energy costs and reduces carbon, but public sector projects often face budget challenges. In this fireside chat, our experts discussed the growing momentum, benefits and challenges of implementing Passivhaus standards in construction. The session featured:* Emma Osmundsen, Director of Housing Regeneration at London Borough of Ealing, and Chair of the Passivhaus Trust * Lorna Taverner, Head of Architecture and Technical Design at Willmott Dixon
This is a recording of a panel session held in the Willmott Dixon pavilion at UKREiiF 2025. We were joined by leaders behind some of our town centre regeneration schemes as they explored the opportunities and challenges of Public-Private Partnership (PPPs) and capital investment funding.
They also shared their strategies for placemaking and overcoming challenges in urban renewal, sustainability, and enhancing quality of life.
The panel featured:
- David Atkinson - National Head of Land and Development at Willmott Dixon
- Matt O'Neill - Executive Director for Growth and Sustainability at Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
- Matthew Gladstone - Chief Executive at Peterborough City Council
- Nazeya Hussain - Corporate Director at London Borough of Croydon
- Paul Richards - Deputy Chief Executive at Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
- Shelley Kipling - Chief Executive at Oldham Council
This is a recording of a panel session held in the Willmott Dixon pavilion at UKREiiF 2025. Our panel of experts discussed how sustainability principles can drive real change in construction, management, and occupation.
The session invited fresh perspectives on how building and design can evolve to meet today’s sustainability challenges, with a particular focus on circular economy and retrofit.
The panel featured:
- Gareth Atkinson - Director, Civic Engineers
- Jamie Quinn - Sustainability Director, Related Argent
- Kemi Owoeye - Technical Lead for Sustainable Design, Willmott Dixon
- Sarah Halpin - Director, Ramboll
This is a recording of a presentation delivered in the Willmott Dixon pavilion at UKREiiF 2025. In this presentation, our Head of Decarbonisation, Kelly Crews, outlines how decarbonisation strategies can align with broader organisational goals, focusing on resilience, energy security, and the circular economy.
She explores how this holistic approach can support net zero while delivering wider environmental, economic and community benefits.
This is a recording of a panel session held in the Willmott Dixon pavilion at UKREiiF 2025. Our panel of experts explored how multi-town regeneration can create long-term social and economic value, drawing on live examples that are currently taking place in Torbay and Dover.
The discussion highlighted the power of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), collaborative vision, community-driven design, and building momentum through early wins.
The panel featured:
- Anne-Marie Bond - Chief Executive, Torbay Council
- Chris Wheeler - Regional Head of Land and Development, Willmott Dixon
- Nadeem Aziz - Chief Executive, Dover District Council
- Stuart Harris - Chief Operating Officer, Milligan
This is a recording of a panel session held in the Willmott Dixon pavilion at UKREiiF 2025. Our panel of experts discussed key strategies and standards that can facilitate the transition to net zero, as well as examples of where it's already being done.
The conversation spanned the importance of early design decisions, data-led performance monitoring, the need for a 'common currency' to define value, and the tangible benefits to individuals and local communities.
The panel featured:
- Cllr Ian Courts - Deputy Leader at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
- David Partridge - Chair at UK NZC Buildings Standard Governance Board
- Francesca Wilkinson - Senior Sustainability and Environmental Manager at Willmott Dixon
- Lorna Taverner - Head of Passivhaus at Willmott Dixon
- Pam Scott - Head of Economic Regeneration and Housing Delivery at Huntingdonshire District Council
In this episode, we explore the role buildings, spaces and play in shaping the student experience and creating an inclusive community on campus.
Our guests are:
- Sally McGill, CFO and Deputy Chief Executive at University of Staffordshire
- Nick Preedy, Project Lead at Willmott Dixon
Hear from Sally and Nick about social infrastructure, the importance of the student experience and how University of Staffordshire's Student Village is designed to put sustainability, community and the needs of students at its heart.
In this episode, we explore the important role social infrastructure plays in local and regional regeneration. We are joined by three guests who are currently involved in an exciting multi-site regeneration project in Torbay:
- Anne-Marie Bond, Chief Executive at Torbay Council
- Chris Wheeler, Regional Head of Land and Development at Willmott Dixon
- Tarah Gear, Director of Brand and Place Futures at Milligan
Our guests share their insights into regeneration, social infrastructure and how they are taking a people-centric approach to the Torbay project to create a thriving costal community.
Andy Geldard, Chief Communications Officer at Willmott Dixon hosts this insightful talk with Greig Baker and Jonathan Werran to discuss the Office for Budget Responsibility Economic and Fiscal Forecast.
Andy Geldard speaks to Senior Building Manager Warwick Roberts about the University of Exeter Sarah Turvill Multifaith Centre.
The enriching new facility aims to promote respect and diversity of all faiths and beliefs and create a sense of community and inclusion on campus and beyond.
Upholding Passivhaus standards and providing a calm, spiritual space for people from a wide array of backgrounds, this new building keeps the environment and cultural purpose at the heart of design and delivery. Innovative tiling techniques and sustainable materials such as porotherm clay blocks ensure high building performance into the future.
As part of our Project Insights Series Andy Geldard spoke to Project Director Jason Hunt about the incredible Bristol Beacon.
Preservation of a stage that The Beatles graced. Ornamental plasterwork restored by craftsmen that worked on the Palace of Versailles. Three uncharted Elizabethan wells. A hall the size of 6.5 Olympic swimming pools and foundations strengthened by enough concrete to fill 1,280 bathtubs. £13m contribution to the local economy annually, 800+ events a year and 30,000 children able to access music technology labs. What do these things have in common? Bristol Beacon: a landmark project putting Bristol on an international stage.
This was no normal project; it tested every facet of Willmott Dixon’s delivery team. Throughout the construction, Willmott Dixon adopted a one team approach. The collaborative relationship with our customer, supply chain partners and stakeholders enabled us to meet the challenges we faced and overcome them together. Through Covid, Brexit, skills shortages, material shortages and structural issues, the team worked tirelessly to deliver this iconic building, the largest concert venue in the Southwest of England.
The King’s Speech on 17 July 2024 provided a clear idea of Labour’s legislative agenda with 35 bills planned. In this webinar recording, Andy Geldard, Willmott Dixon's Chief Communications Officer was joined by leading political analyst Greig Baker, Chair at Baker Kell Cumming. They examined what the new administration means for the construction and property industry and what to look out for in Labour's first 100 days.
As of 12 February 2024, most construction projects will need to incorporate 10% Biodiversity Net Gain into their plans.
In our latest 'Building Knowledge' podcast we share an audio recording of a deep dive into the new legislation and what it means for construction projects.
As of January 2024, most construction projects will need to incorporate 10% Biodiversity Net Gain into their plans.
In our latest 'Building Knowledge' podcast, two of our sustainability managers, Simone Codrington and Morgan Price, discuss how these new mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain requirements will apply to construction projects.
Areas they cover include:
- What biodiversity is and why it's important
- What the legislation is and the projects it applies to
- An overview of the different options for delivering BNG
- How to strategically deliver BNG - including examples
- Top tips for where to start
- Some answers to FAQs we have received from customers
Green and blue spaces are key ingredients in placemaking, but they aren't always seen as a priority. As towns and cities look to evolve, green and blue spaces need to be an integral part of urban regeneration schemes.
In this episode, David Atkinson, our national head of land and development, is joined by Andrew Davison, project director at Queensberry Real Estate, to discuss the value green and blue spaces can bring, including:
- Creating community-centric places where people want to spend time
- Making visits to towns and cities less transactional
- Promoting health, wellbeing and socialisation
- The economic benefits
- Examples of towns and cities who are doing it well - and the approaches they use to finance the upkeep
Our 'Ten Minutes On' podcast series delves into key topics surrounding simplifying sustainability in the built environment - in a short and snappy way.
In the third episode, the topic of discussion is 'Stranded Assets'. Current and future sustainability requirements from the Government could cause some commercial buildings to become legally 'unlettable'. We'll explore what these requirements are and what action building owners need to take to avoid having a 'stranded asset' on their hands.
This episode features our deputy MD (Midlands), Nick Gibb, and Robert van Zyl, partner at Cundall.
The Building Safety Act and its implications are changing the landscape for the construction industry and its customers. At Willmott Dixon, we’re certainly receiving more and more queries from customers and partners about the Act and how it will affect projects moving forward and retrospectively.
This podcast on the Building Safety Act was recorded as part of our Wales and West Spotlight Event in Bristol in July.
We hosted this event for our customers, partners, and colleagues as an opportunity to discuss the implications of the Building Safety Act and offer the opportunity to answer questions.
You will hear a panel of experts from very different sectors discussing a variety of issues and questions around the Building Safety Act, from Professional Indemnity to procurement to liability.
This is the second episode in our podcast series 'Ten Minutes On', which delves into key topics surrounding simplifying sustainability in the built environment - in a short and snappy way.
During this episode we'll talk about two-stage procurement and how it will help unlock sustainable schemes and bring them forward. We'll also share some learnings from recent projects and common barriers and opportunities.
Today's episode features our regional framework manager, Jerry Major, and Chris Clarke, Scape's director of performance and improvement.
This is the first episode in our podcast series 'Ten Minutes On', which delves into key topics surrounding simplifying sustainability in the built environment - in a short and snappy way.
Our first podcast in this series is on Whole Life Carbon, and features our sustainability manager, Francesca Wilkinson, and Nathan Adams, senior sustainability consultant, from Focus.
During this episode we will explore what whole life carbon is, why it’s so important, how to measure it and ultimately how to reduce it. We’ll also speak about how modern methods of construction and the circular economy will play a major part in achieving net zero.
You’ll hear about some learnings from recent projects and the common barriers and opportunities.
Francesca Wilkinson, our sustainability and environmental manager spoke with Conor Nolan at Building Brum to discuss how the fuel crisis is impacting the net-zero carbon agenda and what customers can do to ensure their buildings are fit for the future. She also shares her experience in net-zero technology and how the private sector is approaching net-zero and net-zero ready buildings.
Podcast courtesy of Building Brum.
We hosted a debate in partnership with Building Brum which saw industry leaders gather to discuss how the sector can achieve its net zero carbon ambitions
A panel shared their insights into achieving carbon net zero in construction as well as discussing the outcomes of COP26 and how the industry should respond, including Julia Barrett (Willmott Dixon) Deborah Cadman (Birmingham City Council) Belinda Morgan (Cundall) Tim Carey (Collida) Chris Clarke (Scape) & James Douglas (Lendlease)
Considered to be the most important climate summit in history, during the first two weeks of November, more than 20,000 delegates from nearly 200 countries descended upon Glasgow for COP26. With an overarching goal of keeping global temperature rises to less than 1.5oC by 2050, sustainable development campaigner and Willmott Dixon non-executive director Jonathon Porritt shares his thoughts on whether COP26 achieved its goals.
Welcome to our Willmott Dixon podcast series Building Knowledge – shaping the future of construction. In this episode, Jonathan Porritt will share his insights on what to expect at COP26 and how the built environment should be tackling the biggest challenge our planet faces.
In this episode, Andrew Brookes (National DfE account manager) takes a look at the outlook for Construction in the education sector, including:
- What the latest Government announcements mean for the sector
- How we can build 'better, greener and faster'
- Examples of good practice to integrate into future projects
John Boughton, deputy MD and Richard David, director, in Wales and West talk about being agents for change to increase diversity in construction.
Welcome to our Willmott Dixon podcast series Building Knowledge – shaping the future of construction. In this episode, Mark will be talking about his experience creating Westminster's flagship development in the heart of Paddington.
Click here to find out more about Dudley House.
Welcome to our Willmott Dixon podcast series Building Knowledge – shaping the future of construction. In this episode, Simon and Sam will be talking about transforming construction through blockchain technology.
Welcome to our Willmott Dixon podcast series Building Knowledge – shaping the future of construction. In this episode, we will be discussing the changing landscape of leisure.
Welcome to our Willmott Dixon podcast series Building Knowledge – shaping the future of construction. In this episode we catch up with our CFO, Graham Dundas, to discuss the importance of financial strength in changing and uncertain times.
Welcome to our Willmott Dixon podcast series Building Knowledge – shaping the future of construction. Digital innovation is a hugely exciting area which is constantly evolving and changing the future of the built environment. In this episode, we will be discussing digital innovation in the construction industry.
Welcome to our Willmott Dixon podcast series Building Knowledge – shaping the future of construction.
Sustainability is a huge topic of interest globally and Willmott Dixon is passionate about leaving a positive social, environmental and economic legacy for future generations
We will be discussing the significance of the accreditation and sustainability as a whole in the construction industry.