Time to move beyond the rhetoric of regional investment and into the era of delivery - Kate Livingston
Next week, Leeds is once again at the centre of one of the most pressing policy issues the nation faces. Housing and infrastructure are absolutely key to economic growth and national prosperity. So it is an endorsement of the city, the area, and most importantly the people that the UK Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) returns to West Yorkshire.
It brings with it more than just 10,000 delegates and a flurry of business cards; it brings an opportunity to align infrastructure investment with spatial growth at economic scale. It’s an opportunity for anyone and everyone with an interest or a stake in the sector to get up close with the challenges that must be grappled with and overcome.
Connect Group has attended the conference every year since the inaugural event in 2022, and it remains a highlight in our calendars; when I look at the schedule for this year’s event, I don’t just see a networking opportunity, but a vital forum to challenge barriers to growth and a platform for unlocking investment.
The sheer scale of the event is perhaps best illustrated by the annual scramble for hotel rooms. Months in advance, accommodation across Leeds and the wider West Yorkshire region reaches capacity as the UKREiiF frenzy commences. I am particularly pleased that for the first time, I’m not commuting to the Royal Armouries from Bradford or Wetherby – I have actually managed to secure a hotel room right in Leeds city centre.
This isn't just about bed nights; it is a testament to the event’s gravity, signalling that if you aren't in the room – or at least in the same postcode – you are missing critical conversations in the sector.
The value of UKREiiF extends far beyond traditional business development. It serves as a vital bridge to political representatives and local authority leaders. In an industry where policy and planning are the ultimate gatekeepers of progress, having a direct line to those with an active interest in local authority areas can be transformative. Whether our clients are looking to de-risk new developments or maximise the value of existing assets, these three days provide a rare, concentrated environment to engage with regional mayors and council leaders on their strategic visions.
This unique forum allows for the alignment of private investment with public sector priorities and provides a space to discuss the specific infrastructure needs of diverse local authority areas. UKREiiF has successfully shifted the gravity of the investment conversation away from London, proving that the North isn't just a recipient of policy – it is a driver of economic value. The significance of hosting a major national event of this scale in West Yorkshire cannot be overstated. By anchoring UKREiiF in Leeds, we are forcing engagement with the regions most primed for growth.
Infrastructure remains the bedrock of this growth. We are no longer talking about it in isolation, but as the precursor to housing and the backbone of social value. UKREiiF provides the forum where a local authority leader can sit across from a pension fund manager and map out a long-term vision for sustainable growth. As we look toward the event, the stakes have never been higher. With a shifting political landscape, the clarity and collaboration fostered at UKREiiF are essential. It is time to move beyond the rhetoric of regional investment and into the era of delivery.
Kate Livingston is head of built environment at Connect Group.