UKREiiF 2025: regenerating places, delivering impact 

As a business committed to shaping a better, more sustainable built environment, our time at UKREiiF 2025 reaffirmed the power of collaboration, shared vision, and action. The event continues to grow in both ambition and influence — and this year, it provided a powerful platform to reflect on how we can collectively address some of the UK’s most urgent challenges around place, decarbonisation, funding, and compliance.

Through a series of dynamic discussions and panels, including those hosted at the Willmott Dixon pavilion, we saw leading voices from local government, central departments, investors, and the wider construction and property sector come together. While the topics were wide-ranging, several clear and consistent messages came through.

Regeneration that puts people first

The regeneration of our towns and cities must go beyond physical transformation. At its core, it’s about delivering long-term social infrastructure and value — creating places that people are proud to live, work, and connect in.

From multi-town strategies to coastal reinvention, a shared message emerged: successful regeneration is deeply rooted in collaboration. That means breaking down silos between councils, private partners, anchor institutions like the NHS and universities, and most importantly, the communities themselves. By curating a compelling narrative that speaks to place identity, purpose, and future potential, we can attract investment, build trust, and empower local pride.

We heard consistently that nostalgia is not enough — regeneration must create new opportunities for memories to be made. That’s why we advocate for a hyper-local, community-first approach: one that co-designs spaces, addresses intergenerational needs, and enables economic resilience through thoughtful placemaking.

Funding innovation: unlocking sustainable growth

A recurring theme across multiple sessions was the need to rethink how we fund regeneration and sustainability. Traditional capital investment routes remain important, but they’re no longer sufficient on their own. Public-private partnerships (PPPs), blended finance models, and early-stage community engagement are proving essential in unlocking progress — particularly in a constrained fiscal environment.

We must move away from viewing decarbonisation, regeneration, and housing growth as competing priorities. Instead, we need to align them — leveraging infrastructure investment and ESG-focused funding to deliver impact at scale. Sessions led by our team and partners underlined the growing appetite for innovative, long-term partnerships that support social, environmental, and economic goals simultaneously.

Sustainability: from compliance to competitive advantage

What was once a technical consideration is now central to value creation. From circular economy strategies to net-zero design and Passivhaus delivery, the conversation has moved beyond why we should act — to how we embed sustainability into every decision.

At UKREiiF, our teams shared insight into how we’re helping customers future-proof assets, reduce operational costs, and deliver measurable social value through sustainability. But these strategies only work when considered early, collaboratively, and with clarity around the long-term benefits.

In particular, circular economy principles — including reusing materials, reducing waste, and designing for disassembly — are no longer niche. They are fast becoming industry best practice. Similarly, Passivhaus and net-zero standards are being embraced not just for environmental gain, but for improved health, comfort, and cost efficiency.

Critically, the transition to low-carbon delivery must be communicated in human terms: healthier homes, better schools, warmer community spaces, and lower bills. When framed this way, sustainability becomes not a constraint, but a driver of inclusive growth.

Navigating regulation: building safety and assurance

The evolving regulatory landscape — particularly under the Building Safety Act — remains a major consideration for the sector. At UKREiiF, we discussed how businesses can navigate change while maintaining clarity, compliance, and confidence.

Our perspective is clear: predictability in delivery comes from early engagement, transparent communication, and a culture of shared responsibility. We must engage stakeholders early and finalise designs swiftly to reduce change risk. Strong record-keeping, clear roles, and a proactive approach to risk management are now non-negotiables.

As legislation continues to evolve, it’s imperative that we retain flexibility — not just in project planning, but in mindset. Regulation isn’t a box-ticking exercise; it’s an opportunity to drive better, safer outcomes for people who live, work, and learn in the spaces we create.

A call for shared leadership

If there was one clear takeaway from this year’s UKREiiF, it’s this: transformation at scale requires joined-up leadership. From our roundtables to public panels, the message was consistent — we will only tackle the challenges of our time through deep, sustained collaboration.

Whether we’re unlocking funding for a coastal town, reimagining a high street, or helping a council decarbonise its estate, the common thread is clear. We need strategic alignment, trust, and long-term partnerships across the public and private sectors. Collaboration isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s the foundation of meaningful progress.

As Willmott Dixon, we remain committed to building this future — with our partners, our customers, and the communities we serve. The ideas and energy shared at UKREiiF 2025 will help shape the next phase of that journey.

Visit our event page to explore more from our UKREiiF experience or connect with our teams working on regeneration, sustainability, and public sector delivery, via our LinkedIn account.