From 19-21 May, Viv and I swapped Teams calls and site visits for the slightly more chaotic energy of the UK’s biggest real estate and infrastructure event – UKREiiF in Leeds.
Alongside thousands of delegates, policymakers, developers, housing associations, local authorities and consultants, we spent two days immersed in discussions about the one thing that matters enormously to our clients, how can the housing industry actually deliver the homes the UK urgently needs.
There were, inevitably, a lot of panel discussions. A lot of acronyms. And an alarming amount of flat white consumption, especially thanks to The Hill Group’s complimentary coffee bar.
But beneath all the networking receptions and conference buzzwords, one clear theme emerged again and again – partnerships are no longer a “nice to have”. More than ever before, they are essential to housing delivery. And luckily, that’s exactly where the Oracle team thrives.
Across the multiple sessions we attended, the mood was realistic but surprisingly optimistic. The sector knows the numerous challenges including viability pressures, planning delays, higher borrowing costs, changing regulation and subdued private sales markets, which are undoubtedly making development harder and increasing client nervousness around delivery.
Yet despite the challenges, there was also a strong sense that organisations are adapting through collaboration and creativity.
At Hill’s panel discussion focused on London’s affordable housing market, Deputy London Mayor Tom Copley, Greg Hill, Richard Cook from Clarion and Joanne Drew from Enfield Council discussed how partnerships are increasingly holding projects together. Housing associations are working far earlier with developers, councils are becoming more active delivery partners again, and public and private sectors are finding new ways to unlock stalled schemes.
The conclusion? No single organisation can solve the housing crisis alone.
At SNG’s panel discussion around it’s Homes and Place Standard, the session explored the balance between housing numbers and placemaking. There was a strong consensus that simply delivering units isn’t enough. The conversation has shifted toward creating places where people genuinely want to live, places with identity, infrastructure, sustainability and long-term resilience.
One of the most interesting announcements from the session was SNG’s intention to explore sharing the Homes and Place Standard more widely across the industry. Mark Washer, CEO at SNG discussed its creation of the Homes and Place Standard five years ago, with the purpose of navigating an increasingly complex environment of changing regulation while still delivering holistic outcomes for customers.
What was particularly interesting was the emphasis on collaboration rather than ownership. The conversation wasn’t about creating another layer of bureaucracy or compliance; it was about creating a shared language around quality, placemaking and long-term outcomes across the sector.
Again, partnerships were front and centre.
How Can We Help?
As Viv and I both already knew – successful partnerships don’t happen by accident. They require trust, alignment, engagement and clear communication, whether that’s between developers and councils, housing associations and communities, or organisations and the media.
At Oracle, we aim to help clients build relationships with stakeholders, , engage communities authentically and position themselves as credible, collaborative voices within the sector. We also facilitate clients to connect with one another – whether it’s over a quick coffee or a few glasses of vino, which can help develop partnerships and future opportunities.
And at a time when the sector is under pressure, partnership working matters more than ever. The organisations that will succeed will be the ones collaborating effectively, bringing stakeholders with them and communicating clearly around both challenges and solutions.
The Bigger Picture
Perhaps the most encouraging takeaway from UKREiiF was the sector’s continued determination to keep delivering despite significant challenges. Alongside the realism, there was genuine ambition, innovation and collaboration and a growing recognition that solving the housing crisis will require long-term partnerships and joined-up thinking. Fortunately, helping organisations build those partnerships is something Oracle is very well-rehearsed in.
Now, if someone could also solve the Wi-Fi issue for UKREiiF 2027, that would be most appreciated!!