Episode 90

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Published on:

7th Jan 2026

Why Councils Can't Afford Not to Invest in Housing

In this episode, Tom Pike, Chief Executive of Stevenage Borough Council, reflects on why councils need to stay actively invested in housing delivery. He discusses long-term risk, viability, partnership and why withdrawing from delivery can store up bigger problems for the future. Part of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge.

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About the Podcast

1.5m New Homes
Asking what works and what doesn’t in getting new homes built
Each month at 1.5M New Homes, journalist and consultant Toby Fox will be visiting a different council in England to ask what works and what doesn’t in getting new homes built. He'll also be asking what it takes to build a career in public sector housing delivery.

About your host

Profile picture for Drew Toynbee

Drew Toynbee

Drew is a freelance content creator from the UK, creating audio and video content for audiobooks, podcasts, social media and documentaries for sectors from Weddings to the Space Industry.

When he's not working, you can find him spending time with his family and pets, doing DIY, watching movies, playing Dungeons & Dragons or videogames, or dabbling in a bit of music.

If you need a podcast editor or producer, find more information at drewtoynbee.com