Nick Gregory, Group Director, attended the inaugural UKREiiF (UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum) conference last week in Leeds. He writes:

“The conference was attended by approximately 4000 delegates and speakers from across the UK including representatives from the public sector, central government, investors, developers, housebuilders, and consultants.

The theme of this UK MIPIM-style conference was around accelerating the ‘Levelling Up’ agenda, whilst unlocking sustainable, inclusive, and transformational investment across the UK.

The conference was opened by Mayor Tracy Brabin, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and Lord Bob Kerslake. I also attended the ‘Leaving No Place Behind’ seminar with a number of Metropolitan Mayors from across the UK including Jules Pipe (Deputy Mayor, GLA) and Andy Burnham, (Mayor GMCA) with the discussion around working in partnership between public and private sectors.

Whilst the conference was UK my focus was on attending a number of seminars including the launch and promotion of a number of northwest regeneration schemes including future developments in Salford, Stockport, Nottingham.

I was also a guest at the UKREiiF awards evening at the Leeds Armoury. Between conference seminars there was opportunity to network including discussions with several developers, local authorities and fellow consultants which I will be following up on over the next few weeks.

Overall, it was a productive couple of days with some useful debate and discussion providing an in-depth view of the current property and development market as well as meeting up with some old as well as new contacts, and the sun shone in Leeds!”