What we’re about
THE PROPERTY THING
🏡 Unlock Your Property Investing Success! Join Our Exclusive Monthly Property Networking Meetup! 🏡
🌟 Dear Property Enthusiasts,
Are you ready to take your property game to new heights? Look no further! Our monthly Property Networking Meetup is the ultimate hub for passionate individuals like you, eager to thrive in the dynamic world of property investment.
📆 Save the Date: 2nd Thursday of each month
🕒 Time: 18:30 start (although we often run deal clinics beforehand)
📍 Location: Blackwell Grange Hotel, Darlington
✨ Why Attend?
Connect with Industry Experts: Rub shoulders with seasoned professionals, industry experts, and like-minded enthusiasts. Our meetup is a melting pot of knowledge and experience waiting to be shared.
Unlock Lucrative Opportunities: Discover the latest trends, insider tips, and hidden gems in the property market. Seize the chance to explore potential collaborations and lucrative investment opportunities.
Interactive Workshops: Elevate your skills with our engaging workshops led by experts. From market trends to negotiation strategies, gain valuable insights that can propel your success.
Build a Powerful Network: Networking is key! Forge meaningful connections with individuals who share your passion. Your next business partner, mentor, or client could be waiting to meet you.
Stay Informed: Stay ahead of the curve with updates on market trends, regulatory changes, and innovative technologies. Knowledge is power, and we're here to empower you!
🏢Hosts, Anthony Boyce & Paul Million, are distinguished property developers, and investors with an impressive combined experience of nearly 50 years! They are your go-to guides, ready to dive deep into discussions about YOUR property challenges.
💬 Personalized Problem Solving:
Have burning questions or facing hurdles in your property ventures? Anthony and Paul are here to provide personalised insights, drawing from their extensive expertise. From strategic planning to investment tips, no question is too big or small!
🎤 Monthly Guest Hosts:
Get ready for a wealth of knowledge! Each month, we bring in industry experts and guest hosts to spice things up. Explore a diverse range of topics, discover new ideas, and stay on the cutting edge of the property market trends.
🛠️ In-House Community Experts:
Your success is our priority! Our dedicated in-house community experts are here to support you every step of the way. Whether you need advice on insuring your projects & portfolio, market analysis, or simply how to fund that lucrative deal, our experts have got you covered.
🎟️ How to Secure Your Spot:
Book now to ensure your place at this exclusive gathering of property enthusiasts. Limited slots are available & tickets go quickly, so act fast!
🎁 Exclusive Bonus:
Anyone who books their ticket more than 72 hrs before the event will be entered in the TPT Meat Raffle
📣 Spread the Word:
Tag your friends, colleagues, and fellow property enthusiasts. Let's make this meetup an unforgettable experience for everyone! And if you're new, bring a friend!!! It's Buy One Get One Free for new attendee
📈 Invest in Your Success!
Join us for an evening of networking, knowledge, and endless possibilities. Don't just dream about success—make it a reality with the support of our thriving property community. Oh, and we go for a banging curry at Babul's afterwards, if you'd like to join us?
See you there!
Upcoming events
1
- £15.00
The Property Thing Jan 2026 - Jon McDermott - The Town Planning Expert
Blackwell Grange Hotel, Grange Road, Darlington, GB## Overview
Supercharging your investments in 2026 using Permitted Development and proven Property Planning Strategies to increase success.
## 🔥 The Property Thing —January 2026 Networking Event 🔥
### Featuring: Town Planning Expert - Jon McDermott
📍 Blackwell Grange Hotel | 💻 Also available via online
Your hosts: Paul Million & Anthony Boyce
Date & Time: Thursday 8th Nov. 18:30-22:30
### The Main Event
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.
## Why You Should Attend
- 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.
## This Event Is For
- 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
## Speaker Bio – Jon McDermott (TPX Expert)
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.
### 🌭 The Infamous TPT Sausage Raffle!
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.
### 🏠 About The Property Thing
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.
### 🎟️ How to Attend
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 daphne@81northdesign.com for details.
It’s more than networking. It’s The Property Thing.
See you soon,
Paul & Anthony
www.thepropertything.co.uk2 attendees
Past events
23
