Small Sites, Big Ideas: The Truth About Developers & Good Design with Adam Dainow
Inside Property DevelopmentShow Notes
In this episode Paul speaks with Adam Dainow, Co-Founder of Caswell&Dainow, to unpack the realities of small-site development, the challenges of working with local authorities, and why good design is central to great places.
Adam & Paul discuss the public misconceptions about development, the truth behind “garden grabbing”, and how collaboration between architects, developers and planners can transform even the smallest site into something exceptional
KEY TAKEWAYS
Developers aren’t the bad guys. They’re the ones taking on risk to deliver housing while navigating complex planning systems and public criticism.
“Garden grabbing” is a lazy term. Building in large, underused gardens can be an intelligent and sustainable way to add housing where people actually want to live.
Honesty matters with landowners. Being transparent builds long-term trust, even when expectations around land values are unrealistic.
Finding land is about process and persistence. From direct letters to research and relationship-building, there’s no secret shortcut — only consistency.
Social media works. Instagram, with its visual storytelling, has become Caswell&Dainow most powerful communication and brand-building platform.
BEST MOMENTS
“Developers are not the baddies. We’re the ones putting our houses — and often our homes — on the line to build for others.”
“Most architects want to be developers, and most developers want to be architects. The best projects happen where the two meet.”
“You can’t build on any old garden. If it’s the right size, in the right area, it can be the perfect place for a new home.”
“Being honest with landowners is key. You can’t fake authenticity — people sense it immediately.”
“Good design is not a luxury; it’s the foundation of successful, sustainable development.”
ADAM DAINOW INFORMATION
https://www.caswellanddainow.com/
https://www.instagram.com/caswellanddainow
Milbank Land Academy Scorecard – bit.ly/LAND-SCORE
Bricks & Mortar (The Times) feature: Garden Grab – The Planning Overhaul That Offers Homeowners a Chance to Cash In
Panorama Documentary – The Truth About Property Development (BBC)
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 multi-million-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: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs
Millbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment
This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
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