UKREiiF 2025 wrap-up: turning shared vision into tangible impact 

UKREiiF 2025 brought together industry leaders, policymakers and innovators to explore how we can accelerate regeneration, drive decarbonisation and unlock investment in places that need it most. Across the three days in Leeds, one thing was clear: the ambition is there, but translating it into action is where the industry must now focus.

We left UKREiiF energised by the progress being made, and clear about the challenges ahead. Here are five key reflections from our conversations and our pavilion sessions across the week.

Place-first regeneration is gaining momentum

From multi-town strategies to town centre renewal, the call for regeneration that reflects local identity, meets community needs and boosts civic pride is louder than ever. Effective regeneration is not about applying a one-size-fits-all model, it’s about shaping places that bring long-term value to communities: socially, economically and environmentally. Collaboration across local authorities, funders and delivery partners is key to achieving this, unlocking innovative approaches to risk-sharing and delivery models.

Retrofit and circularity are now central to sustainable growth

The debate is no longer whether to retrofit, but how to scale it - and quickly. Conversations echoed the urgent need to decarbonise existing estates, and the role circular economy thinking plays in making that happen. We heard strong support for adaptive and efficient reuse of materials, and for aligning retrofit investment with local skills and job creation. With funding pressures continuing, unlocking value through smart asset management is a priority.

Net zero needs joined-up thinking across the lifecycle

The shift from net-zero ambition to net-zero delivery continues. We saw a growing recognition that whole-life carbon must become standard practice, not just for new buildings, but also in how we design, fund, operate, and maintain existing assets. Industry-wide progress will depend on better data, consistent standards and procurement models that reward long-term performance. If we want greener outcomes, we need greener inputs across the board, but it needs to be delivered in a way people can understand and relate to, not hidden behind complex science.

Unlocking potential means rethinking how we invest

From seaside towns to post-industrial centres, many of the UK’s most in-need places face a complex cocktail of challenges: economic, social and environmental. But as UKREiiF showed, they also hold untapped potential. Unlocking this potential will require flexibility - from funding models to planning approaches, there needs to be a focus on delivering real, lasting results, not just what looks good on paper. The public-private partnership debate continues, but what’s clear is that successful regeneration needs both commitment and creativity in how investment is structured.

Policy clarity and capability are now critical enablers

The Building Safety Act, the Government’s 10-year strategies and other regulatory shifts are reshaping delivery across the built environment. We welcome the ambition, but for these policies to land effectively, building capacity across the supply chain is essential. Local authorities need support to navigate complexity, and delivery partners must share knowledge and resource. Our industry has a key role to play in making policy work on the ground, not just on paper.

From ambition to impact

UKREiiF 2025 showed us an industry that’s no longer asking whether to act, but how. Conversations were more focused, partnerships more mature, and the commitment to social and environmental value stronger than ever.

To drive real impact, we must keep translating that shared vision into actionable, scalable solutions. That means focusing on places, not just projects. It means backing circular economy and retrofit as drivers of local growth. And it means building the partnerships, capabilities and policy alignment that will enable sustainable transformation at pace and at scale.

Progress is happening when vision meets action. When we regenerate with purpose, retrofit with ambition, invest for the long term and deliver in partnership, we create places that thrive.

We’re proud to be part of an industry that’s leaning into this challenge. Now it’s time to keep the momentum going.

Catch up on our UKREiiF content

Click here to find out more about the sessions held in the Willmott Dixon pavilion at UKREiiF 2025.