Another year at UKREiiF and another reminder that, across the property and regeneration sector, the conversation has shifted from ambition alone to deliverability.
The optimism and energy across Leeds remained strong throughout the week – despite the weather (!) – but many of the most interesting discussions centred on a shared challenge: how do we continue to unlock growth, regeneration and housing delivery in an environment where viability remains under sustained pressure?
That theme came through consistently across panel sessions, client conversations and wider industry discussions.
One of the standout moments for Newsteer was Geena Bains speaking at a regeneration-focused “Opportunity Hounslow” session, where she shared practical insights from our work at Convent Way in Hounslow.
Her reflections were refreshingly honest and closely aligned with the realities many projects are currently facing. Viability pressures, policy constraints and wider macroeconomic uncertainty continue to place significant strain on delivery, particularly in London where cost inflation and stagnant sales values are affecting confidence across the market.
Yet while the challenges are well understood, Geena’s central message was clear: successful regeneration still depends on confidence, collaboration and trust.
In increasingly complex projects, credibility matters. Residents, local authorities, developers, funders and delivery partners all need confidence in both the vision and the route to delivery. Future-proofing schemes, establishing the right partnerships and maintaining a relentless focus on outcomes are becoming just as important as the technical and financial aspects of development itself.
Newsteer is supporting the regeneration of Convent Way, providing advice on procurement, land assembly, viability and business case development as part of the wider delivery team.
The wider policy and planning discussions across UKREiiF reinforced many of the same themes.
Speaking at the “Get London Building Again” session, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development Tom Copley acknowledged that viability and macroeconomic shocks are currently being felt particularly acutely in London. He also highlighted the forthcoming streamlined London Plan, expected to be significantly shorter and designed to reduce duplication while encouraging greater flexibility in how policy is applied.
That move towards flexibility was echoed in several planning sessions across the week, particularly discussions around whether a more rules-based planning system under the draft NPPF would help accelerate delivery or risk reducing the flexibility needed to respond to real-world viability and site-specific challenges.
There was also significant focus on the need to simplify and standardise aspects of the planning process. Discussions highlighted proposals for more standardised Section 106 agreements for small and medium-sized schemes, alongside calls for clearer national policy mapping and greater consistency within local plan policies – while still allowing for local variation where genuinely necessary.
Affordable housing delivery remained high on the agenda throughout UKREiiF. There was broad recognition that funding remains heavily oversubscribed, with strong competition expected for future allocations. At the same time, small sites are expected to play a much more significant role in housing delivery under the emerging London Plan framework – a move likely to generate both opportunity and local debate.
The conversation around confidence also extended into government and delivery agencies more broadly. Several speakers acknowledged the importance of restoring confidence across the sector, particularly amongst SME housebuilders, with Homes England discussions focusing heavily on the proposed Housing Bank and the need to accelerate housing delivery through quicker adoption of policy reforms.
Taken together, many of the discussions at UKREiiF pointed towards an industry trying to adapt to a new operating environment. The market is not standing still, but successful delivery increasingly depends on realistic assumptions, stronger partnerships and a willingness to evolve traditional approaches.
Alongside the formal sessions, UKREiiF remains one of the most valuable opportunities in the calendar to reconnect with clients, partners and industry peers. Newsteer’s annual Flight Club event once again proved hugely popular, bringing together clients and colleagues for an evening of competitive darts, networking and conversations that continued well beyond the exhibition halls.
If there was one clear takeaway from this year’s event, it was that the industry still has ambition – but delivery, flexibility and confidence are now at the centre of the conversation.