The sun was shining in Leeds last week as public and private sector leaders descended on the Royal Armouries for this year’s UKREiiF. We were proud to be part of the conversation, bringing our members and partners together for a series of events focused on shaping the future of London’s built environment.
Throughout the week, one message was clear: public-private collaboration remains central to unlocking the capital’s growth potential. As we look ahead to major policy moments – including the consultation on Towards a new London Plan, the upcoming spending review and the anticipated release of National Development Management Policies – there’s a growing sense of momentum. This optimism is welcome after a period of uncertainty, and reflects the sector’s appetite to engage, invest and deliver.
Our programme began on Monday evening with a dinner focused on housing delivery, kindly sponsored by Ballymore. We were joined by Deputy Mayor Jules Pipe, who offered candid reflections on the need to meet London’s housing target of 88,000 homes a year. He emphasised the importance of a brownfield-first approach while recognising that strategic green belt release may be necessary. He also underscored the value of joint ventures, diversified delivery models, and greater centralised planning capacity to speed up development.
On Tuesday morning, we hosted a breakfast roundtable with Arcadis on creating investable places. We were pleased to be joined once again by Jules Pipe, along with Chris Paddock, Strategy and Policy Director at London Councils. The discussion explored how long-term investment, infrastructure and planning can be aligned more effectively to deliver places that work for both communities and investors. There was a clear call for clarity in policy and consistency in delivery.
We wrapped up the day with an evening drinks reception, generously sponsored by Kanda Consulting. Claire Holland, Chair of London Councils, and Lisa Fairmaner, Head of London Plan and Growth Strategies at the Greater London Authority, joined us to reflect on the challenges and opportunities facing London. Their remarks reinforced the importance of strong collaboration between boroughs, the GLA and the development sector, especially at this pivotal point in the evolution of the London Plan.
While the mood was positive, challenges remain. Viability continues to weigh heavily on schemes, and delays from the Building Safety Regulator are proving costly. There’s also a pressing need to turn national ambition into local delivery, especially when it comes to housing and infrastructure.
UKREiiF once again provided a valuable platform to engage meaningfully on these issues and build the partnerships needed to tackle them. We’ll continue to champion the role of business in London’s growth story, and we welcome thoughts from all our members as we develop our response to Towards a new London Plan.