How can Local Authorities create places people truly belong to, and what does public placeshaping look like in action?
In this episode of Talking Place, host Tanisha Raffiuddin ‘talks place’ with John Stiles, Placemaking Manager at Brent Council, recorded live at the Brent Civic Centre in the heart of Wembley Park.
An architect and town planner, John shares his journey from private practice to public sector placemaking, and why he believes the biggest impact in shaping better cities can happen inside local government.
Together, they explore how councils are rethinking procurement, partnerships, and value creation, and what it means to shape places that people care for, and that care for them in return.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
🟣 How John transitioned from private practice to public placemaking through the Public Practice programme
🟣 Why local authorities can deliver impact faster, despite perceptions of bureaucracy
🟣 How councils are becoming more entrepreneurial, generating value and revenue from in-house expertise
🟣 The challenges and ethics of procurement, and why John calls it “an absolute dark art”
🟣 What makes Brent one of London’s most diverse and dynamic boroughs, from Wembley’s transformation to Neasden’s cultural pride
🟣 How build-to-rent communities are reshaping the idea of belonging and transience
🟣 Why placemaking should be participatory, bringing community voices and young people into the process
🟣 The future of Brent: from growth areas and green infrastructure to AI-driven efficiencies in planning
About Our Guest
John Stiles is an architect and town planner currently serving as Placemaking Manager at the London Borough of Brent. He leads on strategic masterplans across the borough’s key growth areas, combining built and natural environment disciplines to shape inclusive, sustainable neighbourhoods.
Before joining Brent, John worked in private practice with Bell Phillips and McCraner-Lamington, and later joined Transport for London’s Places for London through the Public Practice programme. He is also a member of the Folkestone and Hythe Place Panel, and lectures across UK architecture and planning schools.
Passionate about social impact, John believes great places emerge from collaboration, where councils, communities, and designers share responsibility for shaping cities that work for everyone.
Join the Conversation:
How can the public sector lead the way in creating places people genuinely care about?
Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or LinkedIn @TalkingPlacePodcast using the hashtag #TalkingPlacePodcast
🔗 Links & Mentions:
🏛️ Brent Council – https://www.brent.gov.uk
🏙️ Public Practice – https://www.publicpractice.org.uk
To learn more about the host Tanisha Raffiuddin – visit here:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanishaa
Website: www.conceptculture.co
Twitter: @tanisha.rr
Instagram: @tanisha.rr
To learn more about Talking Place – visit here:
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Website: https://www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast
Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast
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To learn more about Concept Culture – visit here:
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Twitter: @_conceptculture
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