Join us at UKREiiF 2026

UK Real Estate Outlook: Navigating Change and Opportunity

Speakers:

Rebecca Shafran, Research Director, BNP Paribas Real Estate

Ben Mowbray, Managing Director, Greystar

Tom Goodall, Chief Executive, Related Argent Limited

As we look back at H1 and head into the second half of the year, this opening session provides a clear, high-level outlook on the UK real estate market as UKREiiF gets underway. Bringing together market insight and strategic perspectives, the session will explore how uncertainty is being navigated, where conviction is returning, and how strategies are evolving across key sectors. The discussion will explore what has shaped the market so far this year, what is driving activity now, and where opportunities may emerge in the months ahead.

The Office Renaissance: Are Offices Really Back and What Comes Next?

Speakers:

Mhairi Thomson, Offices - Research, BNP Paribas Real Estate (Moderator)

Hugh White, Head of National Capital Markets, BNP Paribas Real Estate

Elaine Murphy, Head of Occupier Strategy, BNP Paribas Real Estate

Stafford Lancaster, Chief Executive Officer, Delancey

William Grenfell, Senior Principal, Catella APAM

The UK office market is reaching a key turning point. Demand for high-quality space has remained resilient, and investor sentiment is now beginning to catch up. This panel will discuss where demand is strongest and how capital is being deployed across London and the regions. The discussion will focus on why quality now matters more than ever, how occupier behaviour is shaping the market, and the practical challenges around stock availability, planning delays and development viability.
 

From Land to Keys – What’s Really Blocking Housing Delivery and How Do We Fix It?

Speakers:

James Riding, Living Markets Editor, Inside Housing (Moderator)

Tim Mitford-Slade, Head of Development Valuation UK, Strutt & Parker

Stuart Dawkins, Assistant Director Lending Alliances and Development Finance, Homes England 

Kelly Hillman, Group Director, Public Land and Place, Vistry Group 

Christiana Makariou, Development Director, Goram Homes

Delivery continues to face practical hurdles, from planning timescales to infrastructure funding and scheme viability. But what is genuinely unlocking housing delivery in today’s UK market? This session focuses on what’s working. Where are schemes stalling - land, planning, infrastructure or finance? Are current partnership and funding models supporting SMEs? And how can public land accelerate delivery?

Bringing together public and private sector perspectives, we’ll explore the models proving most effective, how risk can be better shared, and the one policy or funding change that could unlock the most homes, turning ambition into delivery.

Real Estate Reimagined: How Investors Are Adapting to a New Landscape

Speakers: 

Rebecca Shafran, Research Director, BNP Paribas Real Estate (Moderator)

Mark England, CEO, BNP Paribas Real Estate

Stuart Carr-Jones, Head of UK, Ireland & Emerging Europe Transactions, BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts

Jeremy Humphries-Davies, Managing Director FIC, BNP Paribas 

The session will explore how the real estate investment landscape has evolved and become more complex, and how investors, lenders and advisors are adapting their strategies. Over the past few decades, the real estate sector has moved beyond the traditional focus on offices, retail and industrial to include a growing range of alternative and operational asset classes such as life sciences, healthcare, film studios and other specialist sectors.

The discussion will examine the shifts influencing capital allocation, lending strategies and advisory services, and how they are responding to economic volatility and structural change.

Cloud vs AI: Which Data Centre Is Right for Your Site?

Speakers:

Liz Hamson, Editor, BE News (Moderator)

Mike Umfreville, Head of Data Centres, BNP Paribas Real Estate

As demand for data centres accelerates, driven by cloud computing and the rapid growth of AI, understanding what operators need from a site is becoming increasingly important. In collaboration with BeNews, this session, senior industry figures will explore the key differences between cloud and AI data centres and what this means for landowners, developers and investors. The discussion will focus on the practical factors that determine viability, including power availability, grid capacity, planning and infrastructure.

 

Where Is the Money Going? From Institutional Capital to Occupiers Buying in UK Real Estate 

Speakers:

Jeremy Langridge, Occupier Solutions, BNP Paribas Real Estate (Moderator)

Rick Choi, UK Head of Real Estate Advisory, Global Banking, BNP Paribas

Katherine Russell, Director of Build to Rent, John Lewis Partnership

Swati Srivastava, Head of Institutional Sales & Investor Relations - UK, Ireland, Netherlands, Nordics & International, BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts

Tobias Venzke, Investment Analyst, Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC)

As the UK real estate market reprices, the flow of capital is shifting and so too is the profile of the buyer. In some sectors and regions, occupiers are stepping in as acquirers, competing with institutional and private capital for opportunities. This panel explores where money is moving today, how financing conditions and pricing are influencing decisions, and why regional and secondary markets are coming into sharper focus.

Managing the Middle: Unlocking the Potential of Grade B

Speakers:

Vanessa Forster, GPA Lead, BNP Paribas Real Estate (Moderator)

Mark Kerr, Customer Experience and ESG Lead, BNP Paribas Real Estate

Mhairi Thomson, Offices - Research, BNP Paribas Real Estate 

As the gap between prime and secondary space continues to widen, the real opportunity lies in the “middle”. With Grade A supply constrained and occupier expectations rising, investors and asset managers are under increasing pressure to make existing assets work harder. This session examines how value can be unlocked from Grade B assets. From customer experience and operational design to targeted, data-led interventions, we will share practical strategies for enhancing performance, improving retention and futureproofing assets - without the need for full redevelopment.