London Leaders Series

Our Central London Planning & Politics monthly newsletters* feature exclusive interviews with senior political leaders from the CAZ area. Interviews are conducted by London Communications Agency. 

Explore our interview series below.

• “At the moment, we’ve got lots of research space coming on stream, but we need to work with the property industry on a wider range of demand for office space in the future.” – Interview with Dr Angela Kukula, Chief Executive of MedCity (4 November 2024)
• “The current political alignment presents an opportunity for London to come together and work with central government to solve some of the big challenges the city faces.” – Interview with Graeme Craig, Chief Executive of Places for London (7 October 2024)
• “Transport investment is key to making London work and creating jobs and building homes – essential to the economic development of the city – and not just about running trains” – Interview with Peter Hendy, Chair of Network Rail (8 July 2024)
• “When I became councillor for the West End, it was home to half of all the planning applications in Westminster and had the same number of planning applications each year as Wales.” – Interview with Tim Barnes, Conservative PPC for Cities of London and Westminster (30 May 2024)
• “I’d be very happy to help any incoming Labour administration because that’s my family” – Interview with Simon Pitkeathley, Chief Executive of Camden Town Unlimited (4 April 2024)
• “[The council has] spent a lot of time getting Oxford Street back on track so that we can have that fuel at the heart of the city, and we have similarly ambitious plans for Regent Street” – Interview with Cllr Adam Hug, Leader of Westminster City Council (28 February 2024)
• “We need more ambitious, innovative and exciting venues, businesses and attractions in our city if we’re to remain the best city in the world.” – Interview with Amy Lamé, London’s Night Czar (1 February 2024)
• “[Conservation area rules need interpreting] not just flexibly but speedily so that we don’t have so many delays on projects” – Interview with Edward Lucas, Liberal Democrat PPC for Cities of London and Westminster (14 December 2023)
• “It’s about making sure you get the right kind of development” – Interview with Cllr Claire Holland, Leader of Lambeth Council and Acting Chair of London Councils Claire Holland (29 November 2023)
• “It’s all of London in one place and to be the next MP would be amazing” – Interview with Cllr Rachel Blake, Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Cities of London and Westminster. (1 November 2023)
• “We are far from being property experts so we want to work with the people who are the experts” – Interview with Andy Lord, Commissioner , Transport for London. (29 September 2023)
• “Our work has brought thousands of new businesses into London” – Interview with Laura Citron, CEO, London & Partners. (27 June 2023)
• “I want to shape communities for the better and that’s why I’m a councillor” – Interview with Cllr Diarmaid Ward, Islington Council’s Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Finance, Planning and Performance. (31 May 2023)
• “Amazing spaces are one of the things that we really want to concentrate on” – Interview with Cllr Elizabeth Campbell, Leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (RBKC). (28 April 2023)
• “I’m the travelling salesman for London” – Interview with Rajesh Agrawal, London’s Deputy Mayor for Business. (28 February 2023)
• “They’re not against change, but against the wrong kind of change” – Interview with Nickie Aiken MP, Cities of London and Westminster. (30 November 2022)
• “You will get swift and fair decisions” – Interview with Cllr Simon Hogg, Leader of Wandsworth Council. (28 October 2022)
• “Economic growth and prosperity is at the heart of our policy” – Interview with Shravan Joshi MBE, the City of London Corporation’s new Planning & Transportation Committee Chairman (20 July 2022)
• “I’m interested in outcomes” – Interview with Cllr Geoff Barraclough, the City of Westminster’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development (30 June 2022)
• “Building a new town centre for London”– Interview with Cllr Ravi Govindia, the London Borough of Wandsworth’s Leader (28 February 2022)
• “London’s future lies in going back to its villages”– Interview with Cllr Guy Nicholson, London Borough of Hackney’s Deputy Mayor for housing supply, planning, culture & inclusive economy (31 January 2022)
• “London has so many intrinsic strengths” – Interview with Jules Pipe, London’s Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills (1 December 2021)
• “We’re up for new things” – Interview with Cllr Johnny Thalassites, Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (27 October 2021)
• “Lambeth is in a strong negotiating position” – Interview with Cllr Matthew Bennett, Lambeth Council (30 September 2021)
• “Public private partnership key to Westminster’s success” – Interview with Rachael Robathan, Westminster City Council (30 June 2021)
• “A positive, open place” – Interview with Danny Beales, London Borough of Camden (25 May 2021)
• 27 April 2021: “The challenge of a generation” – Interview with Catherine McGuinness, City of London Corporation
• 18 March 2021: “The right kind of development” – Interview with Richard Watts, Islington Council

*Our Politics and Planning newsletter shares key planning news and political highlights from the GLA and Central London boroughs exclusively with members who belong to both CPA and WPA.

Curated by London Communications Agency and Gerald Eve, the monthly e-newsletter is an additional benefit for joint association members, reflecting their interest in our wider work under the London Property Alliance. Find out more about the newsletter and membership options by contacting team@cwpa.org.uk.