An hour or two on the train from the UK’s most talked-about areas and offering better optics for local authorities to chase private investment than the South of France, it’s little wonder that the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UK REiiF) proved so popular this year. Over 13,000 attendees descended on Leeds for three days in May, a remarkable figure considering the event started in 2022 with nearly 4,000 attendees and nearly doubled that number the following year. This year, housing was a strong focus, but the commercial property sector also had its share of interesting stories.
Held in the Leeds Dock area, UK REiiF took over the Royal Armouries and surrounding buildings, creating a village of adjacent waterside pavilions and hosting over 150 fringe events around the city. Firms from across the built environment, including investors, developers, occupiers, agents, and contractors, were present. Supermarket giant Aldi, looking to expand its real estate reach, was also there. Nearly all venues featured speaking sessions, making the official programme substantial.
Cities and regions from across the country had a strong presence, from Cornwall’s ‘Space Cluster’ of sector specialists to Manchester, Liverpool, the Midlands, and the life sciences cluster of London, Oxford, and Cambridge. Politics was a significant theme, starting with a visit from Angela Rayner on the first day. The Deputy Labour Leader and Shadow Housing Secretary discussed the importance of ‘Getting shovels in the ground’ and proposed a ‘New Towns Code’ for more social and affordable homes with good links to town and city centres and access to nature. The announcement of the general election during the event sparked more political discussions, with attendees generally viewing the news positively for the built environment.
Attendees had various reasons for participating. Matthew Blair, a principal with architects BVN, saw the event as a strategic opportunity to understand the UK’s investment priorities and development plans, particularly in healthcare. Jerry Lehane, a board director with chapmanbdsp, appreciated the chance to network with a wide array of industry figures and praised Leeds as an excellent host city. The £17.6 million generated for the local economy in 2022/2023 certainly contributed to the city’s warm hospitality.
The event also emphasised diversity in the commercial property sector, making significant progress in the proportion of female and ethnic minority speakers and attendees. A notable initiative allowed attendees to bring U25s on a free ticket for every five tickets sold, providing younger colleagues with valuable industry experience at no extra cost to their employers. Charlotte Bate, Part 1 with The Manser Practice Architects, expressed how the event broadened her perspective on topics like culture, sustainability, and social value, reinvigorating her excitement and confidence in her career.
A personal highlight was a discussion on evolving and curating cultural ecosystems within large-scale regeneration projects, organised by Studio Egret West and Sound Diplomacy. The session, titled “Monolith, Mosaic or Mashup,” transformed a standard conference room into a vibrant space with superb lighting and sound, engaging attendees in lively debate about integrating music and nightlife into master planning.
Social value was a recurring theme, with many sessions and conversations focusing on its importance. Andrei Martin, a partner at PLP Architecture, discussed how this issue informed their projects, such as 30 Minories in London, which includes a new office building and a retained Victorian warehouse providing affordable workspace for social enterprises.
The social impact start-up Patch announced the opening of a new ‘neighbourhood workspace’ in the former Debenhams on Bournemouth Square, joining its locations in Twickenham, Chelmsford, and High Wycombe. This £2 million project aims to revitalise the former department store and support business growth with design-led coworking and office spaces for community and cultural uses.
Roger Madelin, Joint Head of British Land’s 53-acre development at Canada Water, shared insights at the developer’s press breakfast. He highlighted The Grand Press, a site once home to Europe’s largest printing facility, which will provide 158,000 sq. ft of Grade A workspace with high ceilings and abundant natural light. British Land also showcased its life sciences projects, including 338 Euston Road and The Crick at Regent’s Place. Lendlease presented its Milan Innovation District (MIND) project as a blueprint for collaboration between private firms and academic institutions in the UK.
Throughout the three days, UK REiiF provided an open, inclusive environment for productive conversations about the future of commercial property. Despite torrential downpours on the middle day, the event maintained a lively atmosphere, earning it the nickname ‘Glastonbury in suits’. Leeds proved to be a vibrant and effective host city, making the event a memorable and valuable experience for all attendees.
Real Estate Credit Investments Limited (LON:RECI) is a closed-end investment company that specialises in European real estate credit markets. Their primary objective is to provide attractive and stable returns to their shareholders, mainly in the form of quarterly dividends, by exposing them to a diversified portfolio of real estate credit investments.
