UKREiif 2025 in review

Our Genr8 Kajima Regeneration team (GKRL) attended a packed 2025 UKREiiF and were pleased to see so many representatives from the private sector alongside a number of local and combined authorities in attendance. The range of events being held outside the ‘compound’, and across the city increased, providing better opportunities for businesses to host events and for attendees to do some wider networking, outside of the official and very busy main event hub. It proved once again, an important and valuable week for the UK real estate industry. The team got involved in a host of activities, sharing some of their key takeaways with us.

Funding & Investment

An over-arching takeaway from this year’s event was a real sense of positivity from the Northern Region, and particularly the Great North collaboration of Mayors. This joined-up thinking is a real boost and lends confidence to investment into the region, where we are currently progressing the Health Innovation Neighbourhood (HIN) in Newcastle upon Tyne - a scheme set to become a global first in research and innovation for living longer, healthier lives.

“However, the question of the overall viability of projects remains, with the current interest rates environment continuing to be a barrier to getting schemes out of the ground.” - Andrew Ludiman, Head of Development & Investment.

While viability is always a challenge, solutions do exist – with Government funding, long-term thinking, and a mix of income streams, developments can help deliver outcomes that encourage people to stay longer, boost footfall, and increase local spend. At our project in Rochdale Town Centre, Rochdale Riverside and Upperbanks, which includes retail, leisure, food & beverage, homes and a hotel, every square foot was curated with care through innovative funding models - creating a town centre to attract Rochdale residents back from the bright lights of Manchester shopping, breathing life and vibrancy back into the town centre.

“With the need, in particular, to deliver new homes quicker, public funding needs to be more easily unlocked, alongside the need for new and more innovative funding mechanisms.” - Ellen Lockhart, Senior Development Manager

Innovation & Sustainability

There were several panels focusing on innovation and adaptability in housing – a topic which is relevant across GKRL’s entire pipeline of mixed-use projects, particularly the HIN in Newcastle – how to provide a mix of housing for all types of residents, creating a sense of place and community, whilst ticking a number of sustainability boxes. Through the early public engagement sessions held on our Central Winchester Regeneration scheme, it’s evident that there is a real desire from users for sustainability to be built into regeneration projects, alongside the need for public realm to be sensitive to its wider area.

“With sustainability so high on everyone’s agenda, it cannot be the first thing to go, when the going gets tough.” - Ellen Lockhart.

Part of GKRL’s redevelopment of St Michael’s Place, in Huyton, includes a new headquarters for the Council - a new Grade A commercial building that will be net zero carbon in operation. That means having sustainability at the heart of the project from the get-go, ensuring the building’s design and construction can ultimately deliver on the Council’s net zero goals.

Filling the Resource Gap

Schools and colleges are doing a great job promoting apprenticeships, but many young people still see opportunities in the industry mainly as bricklayers, plumbers, electricians, or architects. As an industry, we’re still not doing enough, early enough, to showcase the full range of careers real estate has to offer. The reverse mentoring sessions hosted by The Regeneration Brainery, provided interactive, dynamic, and meaningful sessions with students looking for other kinds of opportunities within the industry.

“With a move away from boring and uninspiring PowerPoint presentations we can open students’ eyes to the diverse and exciting opportunities available across the industry.” - Matt Brennan, Senior Project Manager.

Arts & Culture

Regeneration should go beyond simply delivering buildings for living and working. We should be shaping places that inspire, reflect local heritage, and cultivate a strong cultural identity. By doing so, we create places with meaning, that leave a lasting legacy. The ‘Let’s get cultural: Uniting town and cities through investing in the arts’ panel provided some insights into how arts and culture could be embedded as anchor elements across developments, with a clear Cultural Strategy set from the very start.

“It’s crucial that arts and culture receive greater investment to create lasting legacies and serve as true anchors for regeneration. We can’t afford for the public and private sectors to overlook the vital role they play in shaping vibrant, thriving communities.” - Matt Brennan.

The approach to the Central Winchester Regeneration project exemplifies this by actively embracing the city’s rich history and creative spirit. With the Development team supporting annual cultural events like the Hat Fair, the UK’s longest running cultural performing arts fair, and Kings Walk Festival, inviting the community to engage with local arts and businesses in meaningful ways, from the very start of the project.