UKREiiF is quickly becoming the biggest property event in the UK. Team Ridge were there in force. We hear from Phil Kelly, Phil Tomalin, Andy Cleevely and Laura Perry about the key takeaways from this year’s event.
Phil Tomalin, Project Management Partner.
“UKREiiF is rapidly gaining momentum as a major property event, despite the ‘wet Wednesday’ downpour, this year was a massive success. UKREIIF 2025 is anticipated to grow further, attracting up to 18,000 attendees.
“There was a strong focus on building better buildings with a recurring shift towards understanding the entire lifecycle of buildings, rather than just the initial construction phase. This is counter to the UK private sector’s traditional development model which follows a “build and sell” approach. As part of the climate change initiative, the government and occupiers alike are advocating for a more comprehensive understanding on both Net Zero Carbon in construction and operation.
“Various discussions stressed the importance of better co-ordinated long-term master planning to try and bring forward larger development sites in a more coordinated way. At present, the Biodiversity Net Gain initiative forces developers to integrate green spaces and activities within site boundaries – which are often inaccessible to the community. If the government allowed local authorities to adopt a wider master planning approach, these spaces could be removed from individual sites and transferred across via a Section 106 payment to wider community-led initiatives. However, current legislation does not support this joined-up approach.”
Phil Kelly, Sustainability Partner.
“A key takeaway for me from this year’s UKREiiF was that sustainability is now part of the broader agenda, rather than a separate topic. This reflects what we’re seeing in the industry as it becomes a key element in all sectors and projects, rather than an add-on.
“In recent years, the industry has seen evolving standards, especially around Net Zero Carbon buildings. By the end of this year, we expect clarity on new minimum standards and the Building Regulations that’ll affect new builds and existing assets.
“One crucial discussion focused on the capacity and capability of various bodies to enforce national legislation, from Building Regulations to Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES), and the much-needed focus on the improvement of existing buildings. Current efforts are insufficient for preserving embodied carbon, and the incentivisation of demolition and redevelopment raises important questions about the best approach to sustainability.”
Andy Cleevely, Civil and Structural Engineering Partner.
“UKREiiF provided valuable networking opportunities, allowing us to establish new contacts and strengthen existing relationships in the industry. The open, conversational environment provided many opportunities, particularly when engaging with clients and local authorities. It was great to have meaningful discussions and be challenged on various issues.
“A key topic was the lack of government focus on the under-performing planning process, which, combined with a shortage in local authority resources, remains a major concern. The current market conditions are very tough and clients are hesitant to invest due to high costs and interest rates making financial appraisals delicately balanced. There is also nervousness around the design implications of recent legislation changes into high-rise fire safety. Both these challenges are starting to impact development more acutely. However, despite the difficult market, UKREiiF provided a platform for open dialogue and collaboration allowing us to share awareness of our recent success stories.”
Laura Perry, Social Value Project Management Consultant.
“A significant portion of the conference focused on Social Value (SV), underscoring its importance in the industry. One major topic was the urgent need for a universal body to set standards and monitor progress. Currently, the industry is ‘marking its own homework’, leading to inconsistent approaches. Another critical discussion was how to measure SV effectively, debating whether quantitative or qualitative methods are more suitable. The forum also addressed the challenge of attracting young people to participate in public consultations. Typically, only older individuals engage in consultations, even though younger generations are more impacted by these decisions.
“Adding to the overall excitement, the conference buzzed when the news broke about the general election. This added a dynamic energy to this industry-leading event.”
