£250million Social Housing Pipeline at 29 Years Old 😱 | Episode 53: Dorian Payne

Dorian Payne’s story is nothing short of remarkable, from starting a lettings agency at just 16 to building a £250million social and affordable housing pipeline. Today, he’s behind one of Wales’ fastest-growing property development companies.

But the journey between those two points? Brutal. Risky. And full of lessons most people never talk about.

In this episode, Dorian strips back the gloss and shares the grit, sacrifice, and discipline it’s taken to grow Castell Group into a purpose-led development company.

He talks about the realities of scaling and how he’s built trusted partnerships with local authorities to deliver housing that makes a real impact. Dorian also explains why starting with a clear “why” has guided every decision he’s made, and the mindset it takes to keep pushing forward under pressure.

If you’re serious about becoming a property developer or building a property business that actually lasts, this episode will change the way you think about growth, resilience, and doing work that matters.

Contact Dorian:
https://linkedin.com/in/dorianpayneproperty/
https://instagram.com/dorianpayneproperty/
https://castellgroup.co.uk/

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Chapters:
00:00 Coming up
01:10 Dorian’s story
05:05 From building a portfolio to scaling a social housing company
09:36 The skillsets that made this journey possible
13:36 Challenges of scaling a development business
20:12 Making high-stakes decisions as an entrepreneur
24:07 The raw truth about entrepreneurship and resilience
36:50 Dorian’s business framework explained 
39:56 From owning a lettings agency at 16 to Castell Group
47:45 Where the market is heading and how to prepare
51:32 How to connect with Dorian