Being developers ourselves — hunting planning uplift, chasing opportunities, and sitting inside an exclusive developers’ circle — we see firsthand the pain many are going through right now.This week’s guest, Jamie, dives straight into those struggles people rarely talk about publicly.Born into construction, Jamie was almost destined for the trade. He started as a plumber and carpenter before eventually taking over the family business and running it himself.But the real story comes when he opens up about the brutal reality of a two-and-a-half-year development battle.On paper, a mixed-use commercial/residential scheme in Fulham sounds like the dream.In reality?Jamie talks us through the planning headaches, the vendor challenges, the endless back-and-forth, and the harsh truth that after two and a half years with no income and still a long road ahead — it’s hard to get excited about the project at all.That theme — the tiredness, the weight, the uncertainty developers are feeling — is something I’m hearing a lot in today’s market.We also get into how Jamie finds opportunities. Like us, he uses SearchLand, but with a very specific twist:instead of firing letters out at every possible plot,he focuses on lapsed planning,runs a full appraisal before sending a letter,and only approaches sites that actually stack.That way, when the calls come in, the deal already fits the model. Smart, simple, effective.A raw, honest conversation about the true cost of development — the time, the stress, the process, and the grit needed to actually get a scheme across the line.Massive thanks to Jamie, and wishing him the very best with the Fulham project.Until next week,

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