Across the UK, the built environment is facing a period of significant change.
Ambitious housing targets, evolving sustainability expectations, growing demand for digital infrastructure and continued pressure on planning systems are all shaping how places are designed, delivered and managed.
None of these challenges can be solved in isolation. They require collaboration across developers, investors, operators, planners and policymakers.
That’s why events like the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) have become such an important moment in the industry calendar.
From 19-21 May, more than 16,000 professionals will gather at the Royal Armouries Museum and New Dock in Leeds to share ideas, challenge thinking and explore how the sector can deliver the homes, infrastructure and communities the UK needs.
Many of the conversations taking place this year reflect the scale of the challenge ahead. Ambitious housing targets. Evolving ESG requirements. The rapid growth of digital infrastructure. And the long-term responsibility of creating places that provide social value, working not just today, but for future generations.
The Centrick team will be attend to listen, learn and connect with partners from across the country.
Alongside the main programme, we’ll also be hosting a series of sessions and informal meetups at The Centrick Arms, creating space for open conversation away from the conference stages.
The conversations shaping this year’s event
UKREiiF’s programme reflects many of the questions the sector is currently working through, from regeneration and housing delivery to sustainability and emerging infrastructure demands.
These are just some of the sessions our team will be keeping a close eye on.
Creating places that work for people and nature
Creating successful places increasingly means balancing multiple priorities.
Communities need accessible green space. Wildlife needs protected habitats. Developers must meet Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements while ensuring schemes remain viable and sustainable in the long term.
This panel explores how designers, planners and land managers can work together to deliver open spaces that serve both people and nature.
Preparing your place for Generation Alpha
The people who will live in our cities in the coming decades will experience the world very differently.
Generation Alpha will grow up in an environment shaped by artificial intelligence, climate pressures and continued urban growth. That raises an important question for those designing and delivering places today: are we building cities that future generations will thrive in?
From education and transport to public space and digital infrastructure, this session explores how urban environments need to evolve.
Emerging regeneration hotspots
While some locations dominate headlines, others are quietly delivering significant regeneration projects and strong investment returns.
This session brings together investors and developers to explore the towns and cities gaining momentum, and what others across the sector can learn from their progress.
Delivering the UK’s housing ambitions
Few topics generate as much debate as housing delivery.
With ambitious national targets and increasing demand across the country, delivering homes at scale requires coordination across developers, housing providers, investors and local authorities.
This discussion looks at how the sector can work together to accelerate delivery while maintaining quality and long-term sustainability.
The growing demand for digital infrastructure
The digital economy is reshaping land use across the UK.
Demand for data centres and digital infrastructure continues to rise, placing pressure on power-ready sites and suitable locations. This session explores how developers and investors can unlock value by repurposing existing land and assets while managing the competing demands on strategic sites.
A place for conversation: The Centrick Arms
While the main programme offers valuable insights, many of the most useful conversations at UKREiiF happen away from the stage, between sessions, over coffee, or during informal networking.
That’s the idea behind The Centrick Arms, returning this year at Bridge End Social, just a short walk from the main venue.
Throughout the day, we’ll be hosting discussions, networking sessions and informal meetups where people can step away from the busy programme and exchange perspectives with colleagues from across the sector.
Official UKREiiF Fringe Event | Powering Property Progress: Closing the Skills Gap
09:00 – 10:30 | Panel discussion and networking breakfast
From planning and design through to construction and property management, the sector is facing a growing skills gap.
At the same time, regulatory expectations are increasing and supply chains remain under pressure.
This breakfast discussion will explore how skills, compliance and workplace culture will shape the future of property delivery.
Moderated by Phil Johns, Managing Director at Centrick, with contributions from Joe Milton – Learning & Development Manager, Centrick, JB Leitch, ASK4, Cardinus, and Bailey Partnership.
Planning Under Pressure
11:00 – 11:45 | Fireside chat (Chatham House Rule)
Planning remains one of the most complex and debated areas of the development process.
In this session, held under the Chatham House Rule, industry voices will share candid perspectives on the barriers, realities and potential solutions within the planning system.
Moderated by Charles Lucas, Group New Business Director at Centrick, with Abigail Blumzon, Senior Associate Project Manager at Bailey Partnership, and more!
The Safety Net
13:00 – 13:45 | Fireside chat (Chatham House Rule)
In recent years, building safety and compliance have become central considerations in the property lifecycle.
This discussion explores how evolving regulation is shaping decision-making for developers, owners and asset managers — and how the sector can respond effectively.
Moderated by Phil Johns, featuring Connor Scherer – Building Safety Director, Centrick, Andrew Banister – Chief Strategy Officer, Earl Kendrick, JB Leitch, and more!
Midday Meetups
12:00 – 16:00
For those looking for a more informal setting, our Midday Meetups offer a chance to drop in, have a drink and catch up with the Centrick team and industry partners.
Whether you’re discussing a project, sharing ideas or simply taking a break between sessions, everyone is welcome.
ARL & Centrick Evening Social
17:00 – late
To round off the day, Centrick and the Association for Rental Living (ARL) will be hosting an evening social with live music and relaxed networking.
See you in Leeds
UKREiiF brings together a wide range of voices across the property sector – developers, investors, operators, policymakers and advisers – all working towards the same goal: creating places that support communities, economic growth and long-term investment.
If you’re attending this year’s event, we’d be delighted to see you at The Centrick Arms.
