Fisher German Talks

About Fisher German Talks

Fisher German Talks is a podcast that brings you the most important conversations in property and surveying. We talk about the latest trends in property development, diving deep into how sustainable practices can transform the industry. We talk about the integration of innovative, energy-efficient technologies in property management, showcasing real-world applications and benefits. We talk about the journey to achieving net-zero carbon goals, sharing expert insights and strategies that make a real difference. Fisher German, with nearly 200 years of experience, offers extensive property services in sectors like commercial, infrastructure, and residential through their 800 professionals across 26 offices. At the forefront of the 'Green Property' revolution, they guide clients in sustainable practices, including Net Zero goals and green energy, aiding in both immediate and long-term property planning. These practices are constantly changing, so join us here, to stay ahead of the game. Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss an episode

Publisher

Fisher German

Category

business · science · technology

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

25 Feb 2022

Latest episode

6 Mar 2026

Latest episodes

41 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Mar 2026

   Future Proofing London - The Smart City

   Artificial intelligence is being hailed as the solution to almost every problem facing the UK planning system. But what if the most disruptive technology of our generation is also one of the most misunderstood? Recorded on the back of our Future Proofing London thought leadership report, host Stuart Flint sits down with three experts to explore what a truly smart city looks like and why getting there will require as much caution as ambition. Joining Stuart are Sam Fowles, barrister specialising in planning, judicial review and data protection law; Scott O'Dell, planning consultant and partner at Fisher German; and Patrick Cousins, board director at integrated communications agency PLMR, who leads their energy and sustainability practice. Together, they take an unflinching look at what AI can and can't do in a planning context. Sam introduces the concept of the "stochastic parrot," a model that predicts decisions rather than reasons through them, and explores why handing that parrot the keys to the planning system could create more problems than it solves. From the proliferation of AI-generated objections, described by some as NIMBYism on steroids, to the very real risk of one algorithm talking to another with no human understanding at either end, the conversation is as sobering as it is fascinating. But it's not all caution. The panel also make a compelling case for where AI genuinely earns its place: digitising decades of fragmented and handwritten planning records, processing thousands of consultation responses with speed and consistency, and generating real-time visualisations of proposed developments that make the planning process more accessible to everyone. The Bath Stadium decision, which brought a 10-year planning saga to a close in 2025 using AI-processed consultation responses, is cited as an early proof of what's possible when the technology is used as a tool rather than a decision-maker. Accountability sits at the heart of the debate. Scott draws a clear line between AI as a processing aid and AI as a planning authority, while Sam raises the spectre of the Post Office Horizon scandal as a cautionary tale about what happens when algorithmic systems go unchallenged. Add in the implications of UK GDPR for automated decision-making and the potential for commercially confidential algorithms to become effectively challenge-proof, and the need for proper regulatory frameworks becomes hard to ignore. The conversation then turns to energy, where Patrick offers a clear-eyed assessment of London's twin challenges: decarbonising heat and managing the surging demand for power. He explores why heat decarbonisation remains the harder problem, what the government's Warm Homes Plan gets right and where it falls short, and why retrofit rather than new build is where the biggest gains will be made. He also shares a fascinating case study from Otterpool Park in Kent, where 8,500 homes are being designed around communal battery storage, rooftop solar and smart grid software, creating a blueprint for how new communities might one day supply power back to the national grid rather than simply drawing from it. Scott brings it back to planning, exploring how locational sustainability, transport infrastructure and energy demand must all be balanced through a planning system that is sometimes too slow, too detailed and too complex to respond to change at the pace the moment requires. If the Smart City is the destination, this episode maps both the route and the roadblocks. For more information and to read our Future Proofing London report, visit fishergerman.co.uk/insights

2. 

   27 Feb 2026

   Future Proofing London - The Green City

   80% of the buildings that will be standing in the UK in 2050 are already built. That single statistic changes everything when it comes to how we think about sustainable real estate and it's the jumping-off point for this episode of Fisher German Talks. Recorded on the back of our Futureproofing London Report thought leadership report, host Stuart Flint sits down with three experts to explore what a truly green city looks like and what it will take to get there. Joining Stuart are Rachel Bridge, Fisher German's ESG Partner, Will Poole, partner at architects and urban designers Howells, and Jonathan Hulbert, Head of Programme Management at the Better Buildings Partnership, a collaboration of leading property owners representing over £360 billion of assets under management. Together, they dig into the pressing case for retrofit-first thinking. With up to 60% of embodied carbon in a new build sitting in the structure alone, adapting what already exists is one of the most powerful sustainability tools we have. But it's not always straightforward particularly when it comes to converting large commercial floor plates, balancing energy performance with heritage preservation, and navigating the gap between a building's theoretical EPC rating and its real-world performance. That gap is where the Australian-born NABERS rating system comes in. Jonathan explains how the Better Buildings Partnership brought NABERS to the UK, now known as NABERS UK and administered by CIBSE, to offer a transparent, star-rated measure of actual in-use building performance. It's a system already proven to drive higher rents and lower voids, and one that's increasingly being specified by tenants who want buildings that genuinely perform. The conversation also covers the evolving relationship between landlords and occupiers from green lease clauses and data-sharing obligations to why framing sustainability as mutual opportunity, rather than imposed obligation, is what actually moves the needle. As Jonathan puts it: if you can't measure it, you can't manage it. Will brings the urban placemaking perspective, drawing on Howells' work at Canary Wharf's Eden Dock, a public realm project that has boosted biodiversity, opened up waterside access, and played a direct role in the estate's commercial resurgence. He also reflects on what projects like King's Cross and Paradise Birmingham teach us about the long-term value of retaining heritage assets, and why reducing carbon at all costs isn't always the right answer. Rachel also weighs in on return on investment, why ESG-led improvements don't always pay back overnight, but why the consequential benefits, from stronger occupiers to rental and capital growth, are well worth the long game. Plus, where does the skills gap sit in all of this, and what does the next generation of sustainable property professionals need to know? Answers to these questions and more, right here. For more information and to read our Futureproofing London Report, visit fishergerman.co.uk/insights

3. 

   7 Nov 2025

   Bridging business & charity - the challenges, the future and the need for business collaboration

   In this special episode of Fisher German Talks, host Stuart Flint is joined by Sally Chacatte, Founder and Chair of W4Youth, and Tim Sledge, Director of Fundraising at XLP, for a powerful conversation about the realities facing the charity sector, and the young people who rely on it. As Fisher German marks two major milestones, the launch of our Future Proofing London report and the completion of the Big 25 Challenge, the discussion turns to how charities can remain resilient in a time of economic uncertainty, social change, and rising need. It’s a time for business and non-profits to come together. So what needs to happen? Sally and Tim share deeply personal stories about the tragedies that inspired their organisations, the young lives they’ve helped transform, and the urgent need for safe, engaging spaces where young people can thrive. Tim talks about one of XLP’s biggest successes, Adil, who found the charity as an 11-year-old and went on to graduate from King’s College London with a 2-1 in Physics. At the same time, W4Youth’s “Train the Trainer” programme is empowering young leaders in West London, as Sally explains. Together they highlight the extraordinary impact of grassroots action. Collaboration is key: charities, businesses, and communities must come together to future-proof the sector, whether through funding, skills sharing, or rekindling that all-important human connection.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

9 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 25 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

23

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

68

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.