Key Themes We Expect to See at UKREiiF 2025

Housing-led regeneration

Tackling the housing crisis is a key driver of regeneration policy. But it's not just about building more homes—it’s about creating the right homes, in the right places, with the right supporting infrastructure. I think we’ll see a strong emphasis on quality and sustainability, particularly in higher-density developments that maximise land use while creating liveable, affordable spaces. Unlocking brownfield land will be a big part of this, but so too will be ensuring local plans support a mix of tenures, affordability, and community needs.

Legislation: Building Safety Act & Procurement Act

New legislation is changing the way we work—from the increased accountability introduced by the Building Safety Act to the new procurement processes being shaped by the Procurement Act. These reforms bring both opportunities and challenges. At UKREiiF, I expect discussions to centre around how these policies are being interpreted and implemented across the public and private sectors, and how we can ensure they support, rather than delay, vital regeneration work.

Funding and delivery in a time of constraint

With local authority budgets under immense pressure, traditional funding routes are increasingly limited. We're seeing a shift towards more innovative financing approaches—whether that’s joint ventures, blended finance, or models that better capture land value. But funding alone isn’t enough; projects must demonstrate clear social, economic, and environmental value to gain traction. Delivery partners will need to be more collaborative, agile, and outcome-focused to get schemes off the ground and ensure they deliver lasting benefits for communities.

Planning reform and system capacity

The planning system continues to face delays and under-resourcing, which can stall even the most promising regeneration schemes. There’s a growing recognition that reform is essential, not just in terms of legislation, but in how planning is resourced and supported. I expect to hear a lot about digital planning tools, improving data use, and creating clearer pathways to decision-making. Upskilling within planning teams and revisiting fee structures to reflect the real costs of delivery will also be vital to address capacity challenges.

Environmental standards and retrofit

The path to net zero must run through regeneration. Retrofit, of public estates, housing stock, and commercial buildings, offers one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to decarbonise. But delivering it at scale requires better alignment between policy, funding, and technical delivery. I’m looking forward to hearing more about how clients and delivery partners are integrating environmental standards into regeneration—whether through passive design principles, low-carbon materials, or district-wide energy strategies.

Regeneration through collaboration

At Pick Everard, we believe that regeneration should be about more than physical transformation. Our teams bring together design and management expertise to support local authorities and partners across the UK in navigating complexity and delivering solutions that work. We’re passionate about shaping resilient, thriving places that respond to today’s challenges and tomorrow’s needs.

Join us at UKREiiF 2025

Heading to UKREiiF this year? Come and find us for a chat, I’ll be there with the wider Pick Everard team, and we’d love to hear what you’re working on.

You can also catch us at the Dockside Pavilion on the 20th May, where our director of architecture, Kieran Dyer, will be joining a panel to share insights on how education can drive regeneration and economic growth.