The Property Thing Jan - Jon McDermott - Town Planning Expert

📍 Blackwell Grange Hotel | 💻 Also available via online (catch-up)

Your hosts: Paul Million & Anthony Boyce
Date & Time: Thursday 8th Nov. 18:30-22:30

Are planning authorities grinding your deals to a halt? Feel like councils love red tape more than decisiveness? This session flips the script.

Join planning strategist Jon McDermott, the UK’s go-to expert on Permitted Development and savvy planning tactics, as he reveals how to turn the system to your advantage. Learn how to use Permitted Development rights and Prior Approval approvals as strategic tools to unlock value, supercharge investment returns, and sidestep the painfully slow traditional planning process.

This isn’t theory — it’s practical, battle-tested insight into maximising GDVs by thinking creatively, safeguarding planning outcomes, and exploiting planning gains and “planning flips” instead of being stuck in the holding pattern of endless applications. Whether you’re targeting HMOs, conversions, or commercial-to-residential work, discover how to reduce risk, accelerate approvals, and bank permission before you even submit a full planning application.

Expect real-world examples, strategic frameworks, and a fresh mindset to help you get planning working for your investments — not against them.

• Planning is tighter, slower, and more risk-averse in 2026. Learn how to work around the system, not fight it.
• Discover how Permitted Development can dramatically increase GDV without waiting years for full planning.
• Understand how to bank Prior Approvals to safeguard value before committing serious capital.
• Learn strategies to create planning gains and sell on, rather than tying up cash in long holds.
• Explore higher-yield opportunities beyond standard buy-to-lets, including HMOs and conversions.
• Get ahead of upcoming planning changes and how they affect investors and developers.
• Learn how experienced developers de-risk sites before purchase using planning strategy.
• Leave with practical, immediately usable insights, not theory.

• Buy-to-let investors looking to step up returns or scale into development
• Developers seeking faster, lower-risk planning routes
• Architects, agents, and property professionals wanting commercial planning insight
• Investors interested in HMOs, conversions, and planning-led deals
• Anyone frustrated with slow councils, vague decisions, and stalled applications
• Anyone looking to gain additional property knowledge and find more creative angles for their deals

Jon McDermott is a UK town planning expert specialising in Permitted Development, Prior Approvals, and creative planning strategies that help developers and investors unlock value quickly.

Rather than getting stuck in slow, uncertain full planning applications, Jon focuses on using the system intelligently. His work helps clients de-risk sites, maximise GDVs, and secure lawful fallback positions that can be banked and leveraged later. This approach often allows schemes to move forward faster, or even be sold on at a premium once planning value has been created.

Jon regularly advises on HMOs, commercial-to-residential conversions, planning gains, and “planning flips”, helping clients think beyond simply building and holding. His methods are practical, strategic, and grounded in real-world planning outcomes, not theory.

Because no TPT night is complete without it.
This month? Expect more sausagery than ever before in the all-new Sausage Battle. Bring your sense of humour.

We’re two property junkies — Paul Million and Anthony Boyce — who love connecting great people doing great deals.
When the big national networks disappeared up north, we decided to build our own community: real talk, real value, real people.

Paul Million
👉 30+ years as a landlord & developer
👉 Creative dealmaker & perfectionist in his projects
👉 Host of the LOAF Podcast, interviewing inspiring figures about resilience and success

Anthony Boyce
👉 Developer & investor with 20+ years in architecture
👉 Founder of 81 North Design - Architecture + development experts
👉 Specialist in commercial conversions and mentoring others to maximise their deals

Head to www.81northdesign.com to learn more about how we can help you do more with your developments.

Join us in person at the Blackwell Grange Hotel for the full experience — the energy in the room is unbeatable.
Can’t make it?
👉 Watch via catchup — email for details.

It’s more than networking. It’s The Property Thing.
See you soon,
Paul & Anthony
www.thepropertything.co.uk

Info: General networking, chit chat & drinks

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