Talking Place
Welcome to Talking Place
The podcast bringing placemakers and storytellers together to talk about place.
The Talking Place podcast is your go-to podcast for exploring the power of storytelling in shaping narratives and identities for neighbourhoods, towns, cities, and nations.
Join your host, Concept Culture’s Creative Director Tanisha Raffiuddin as she talks with experts across the built environment, sharing their knowledge and stories on placemaking, branding, sustainability, language, finance, health, culture, and more.
Whether you are an urban designer, architect, planner, developer, investor, marketeer, or simply curious about places and stories, this podcast is for you.
Listen to our latest episodes of Talking Place and join the conversation on social media!
Follow us on:
Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast
X: @tppodcast_
LinkedIn: Talking Place Podcast
Bluesky @talkingplace
TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast
Host: Tanisha Raffiuddin
Production: Concept Culture
Talking Place
017 - Reimagining Earls Court: Culture, Creativity and Community with Tom Branton
What does it mean to reimagine a place as complex and stories as Earls Court?
In this episode of Talking Place, Tanisha Raffiuddin speaks with Tom Branton, Development Director at the Earls Court Development Company, about the ambitious transformation of the former exhibition centre site and its surrounding neighbourhoods. Together, they unpack how culture, creativity, and community engagement are being woven into the masterplan to create a vibrant, inclusive new district for London.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How Earls Court aims to honour its past while building trust with future residents - Why culture is central to the transformation of Earls Court
- How to meaningfully involve communities in shaping long-term visions
- The role of ‘wonder’ and creativity in building trust and identity in development projects
- The gritty realities of large-scale development and creating long-term impact.
About Our Guest:
Tom Branton is the Development Director at the Earls Court Development Company, leading on the delivery of one of London’s largest and most high-profile regeneration projects. With extensive experience in complex urban development, Tom is passionate about creating places that are rooted in community, enriched by culture, and built for the future.
Whether you're a developer, placemaker, urbanist, or curious Londoner - this episode is packed with insights on how cities can be reimagined with creativity, care, and community at their core.
📸 Video and photography content courtesy of Earls Court Development Company
🔗 Links & Mentions:
Earls Court Development Company
Website: https://www.earlscourt.com/
Tom Branton
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-branton-b8313226/
Follow ECDC on Instagram: @earlscourtdevco
To learn more about Tanisha – 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:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast
Website: https://www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast
Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast
X (Twitter): @tppodcast_
Bluesky: @talkingplace
TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast
To learn more about Concept Culture – visit here:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk
Website: www.conceptculture.co
Twitter: @_conceptculture
Instagram: @_conceptculture
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro: Why Earls Court matters
05:00 – Embedding culture in regeneration
12:00 – Community engagement in practice
20:00 – Lessons from large-scale development projects
28:00 – Building trust through creativity
36:00 – The future vision for Earls Court