en.Wedoany.com Reported - The UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) 2026 annual conference was held in Leeds, where attendees discussed topics including housing development, building safety regulations, the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the real estate sector, and the economic standing of the built environment. Within the conference framework, a panel discussion titled "The rest is politics live," hosted by Related Argent, became a highlight. Alistair Campbell moderated the event, which featured Related Argent CEO Tom Goodall, Mayor of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Tracy Brabin, and Institute of Directors Chief Economist Anna Leach.
During the discussion, Tom Goodall pointed out that barriers to housing development lie in excessively high planning costs and lengthy timelines, while also arguing that the Building Safety Regulations need amending because the current rules are not fit for purpose. He cited statistics claiming that second staircase requirements would save only one life in approximately 6,163 years, yet would hinder the supply of tens of thousands of new homes. Nick McKeogh, CEO of NLA (New London Architecture), spoke on behalf of the built environment industry, presenting a report he commissioned showing the sector accounts for as much as 25% of the UK economy, and called on the government to prioritise the built environment as a growth area. Anna Leach suggested this could be incorporated into an infrastructure strategy.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed addressed the forum, acknowledging the vast housing agenda that needs to be delivered and stressing the necessity of integrating public services at the local level. Reed stated there is a backlog of demand for social housing and that "overseas events" might necessitate further support for housing. He mentioned the new £16 billion National Housing Bank, believing it could be a game-changer, potentially attracting more funding. When asked about the finalisation timeline for the National Planning Policy Framework, Reed replied "shortly." Homes England Chair Pat Ritchie reported on the same day that the agency delivered 40,000 homes last year.
Focusing on industry innovation, marketing guru and Ogilvy UK Vice-Chairman Rory Sutherland, speaking in a session titled "Marketing is a form of innovation," stated that the housing sector lacks innovation and that developers should focus more on differentiation rather than making all housing converge. He pointed out the risks of corporate isomorphism and suggested that openly discussing negatives can sometimes be more effective.
In a dedicated panel on AI's impact on real estate, Orbital co-founder and CEO Will Pearce, an AI real estate company, Simmons & Simmons partner Barry Gross, and CMS Law Real Estate Co-Head Chris Rae discussed the challenges and opportunities of data centre development. Participants noted the sector is developing rapidly but is constrained by factors such as planning approvals, grid capacity, and the lack of a master plan. The forum also attracted Chancellor Rachel Reeves and strong representation from local and regional government.
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