Day two – UKREiiF 2025

Day two at UKREiiF in sunny leads last week and our team found emerging collaboration models to be a running theme across the conference. From public, private and third sector partnerships to cross city initiatives, the focus of the day was very much on how collaboration is key to unlocking opportunities, driving growth and delivering places that thrive.

In the morning, for example, we heard how leaders in northern cities Leeds and Sheffield are joining forces to make the case for enhanced connectivity between them to form an economic area that plays to each of their city’s individual strengths.

In a similar vein Steve Beel at Freeport East spoke to the fact that the three local authorities within the Freeport, each with their own objectives, are coming together with a single vision for the Freeport, which will unlock growth, trade and opportunities.

Later in the day, in a discussion about blueprints for New Towns, chaired by Joanna Rowelle from Arup, all members of the panel spoke about the essential nature of public / private partnership across the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor in order to unlock New Town opportunities. They also touched on the potential value of development corporations as long as they include a collaborative approach with local leaders.

Lastly, at the launch of the inaugural Historic England Investment Prospectus, Richard Upton spoke passionately and with great verve about how developers, investors, public bodies and architects can all work together to restore and repurpose the UK’s heritage assets to deliver places that have real identity, offer a platform for enterprise, support creative industries and deliver real financial returns.

The day concluded with a brilliant example of collaboration – Rock @ UKREiiF in support of LandAid!