How ESG can make you money and help the planet with Andy Cox Artwork

Urban Forecast

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.

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Urban Forecast

How ESG can make you money and help the planet with Andy Cox

February 17, 2025 • Ackroyd Lowrie • Season 3 • Episode 23

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 challenges of navigating increasing regulation, and why sustainability must be more than a compliance exercise.

With discussions around risk management, stranded assets, and the impact of regulation on development, this episode is a must-listen for anyone in the property, construction, or investment sectors.

Are we drowning in legislation, or can we carve out a clearer path forward? Tune in to find out.

Key Takeaways:

From karaoke to construction – Andy’s unconventional route into real estate and why people, not just projects, fuel his passion.

The real impact of ESG – Why sustainability isn’t just a ‘nice-to-have’ but essential for asset resilience.

Regulation overload? – The tension between economic growth and increasing legal constraints in the UK property market.

The risk of stranded assets – How developers are adapting to maintain asset value amid rising ESG expectations.

Building Safety Act realities – What’s working, what’s not, and why clarity is key for the industry.

Procurement evolution – Are we heading towards a new hybrid model of development and construction management?

A housing market in limbo – Can planning reform, increased housing targets, and viability challenges ever align?

What’s next? – Predictions for 2025 and beyond—will we see real progress, or are we in for another year of uncertainty?

Best Moments (Quotes):

“Sustainability shouldn’t be a bolt-on. It needs to be woven into everything we do.” – Andy Cox

“We’ve got the accelerator on and the brake on at the same time. No wonder the industry is stalling.” – Oli

“The Building Safety Act has changed the definition of compliance - it’s no longer about ticking a box.” – Andy Cox

“If we want certainty in the market, we need to distill regulation - not just keep adding more.” – Jon

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Ackroyd Lowrie - https://www.ackroydlowrie.com/

Trigon - https://trigon-dm.com/about/

EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT

The Architect who entered politics - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmrNRTM5HKk

Modernise or Die: the hard truths about MMC and housing delivery - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW4N6hDk5i4

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Jon Ackroyd and Oliver Lowrie, the visionary hosts of Urban Forecast, bring their expertise from leading their innovative practice, Ackroyd Lowrie. Known for pushing the boundaries in urban design, Jon and Oliver use their podcast to delve into the future of cities, sharing insights from their work on projects that emphasise sustainability, community, and transformative architecture. Through Urban Forecast, they engage listeners with discussions on how architecture and design shape urban living, aiming to inspire new ways of thinking about the spaces around us.

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Email: info@ackroydlowrie.com