UKREiiF | All the news, announcements from 2026

From Reform’s case for housebuilding to the launch of the £10bn East Birmingham MDC, here are the headlines important for those in the North and Midlands from the Leeds property and investment expo.

National news

Pennycook hits back at critics over housing strategy

Housing minister Matthew Pennycook has defended the government’s approach to planning and housing reform, rejecting claims it was ‘underprepared’ on entering office.

What would Reform do to accelerate housebuilding?

Introducing tax breaks to help regenerate ailing town centres and cutting planning red tape would be among the poll-topping party’s focuses if it were to form a government at the next general election, according to deputy leader Richard Tice.

Reed, Ritchie share govt’s housebuilding strategy

Voters made one thing abundantly clear in the local elections, according to secretary of state Steve Reed: “They want to see change faster.” At UKREiiF, he and Homes England chair Pat Ritchie shared how they were going to answer that call to action.

‘We are only just getting started’, says Reeves

Against a tumultuous political backdrop, the chancellor was in buoyant mood at UKREiiF as she announced hundreds of millions of pounds of investment across the North and the scrapping of judicial reviews that slow down large infrastructure projects, while also defending the government’s first two years in office.

Berry sets out Reform’s early deregulation agenda 

Reform’s Jake Berry says the party is “not wedded to ideology” as it draws up its new policy platform, adding that deregulation, devolution and delivery could form the basis of the party’s general election manifesto in three years.

Reed on devolution: ‘We’ve got to drive it faster’

“This is only the start on devolution,” secretary of state Steve Reed told Place on Wednesday, in an exclusive interview after his stage session with Pat Ritchie at the Leeds-based investment conference.

UKHospitality chief calls for end to govt ‘snobbery’

Town and city centres will become “deserts” if the government does not cut taxes for bars and restaurants, according to the industry body’s chief executive Allen Simpson.

Themes from Leeds in 2026 

More than 16,000 property professionals descended on the West Yorkshire city en masse for the property expo and its vibrant fringe. Here are the big talking points from this year’s convention for those in the North and Midlands.

Yorkshire and North East

North East England launches 190-acre N-SIS 

Designed to attract large-scale occupiers and global investors, the Northumberland Strategic Investment Site has the ability to accommodate up to 3.25m sq ft of industrial space to support advanced manufacturing, energy, and wider industrial operations.

£16m funding boost for Caddick’s South Village

The developer and Homes England have used the property exhibition to unveil a new infrastructure grant for the 2,000-home mixed-use scheme in Leeds, two years after the urban village was officially launched at the event.

Leeds MDZ plans unveiled to drive South Bank regeneration 

The proposed MDZ would bring together Leeds City Council, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Homes England, and government under a single delivery structure aimed at accelerating housing, infrastructure, and commercial development.

Capital&Centric confirmed as Albion Square developer

Hull City Council has chosen C&C to lead on its city centre regeneration project and will now finalise plans for the mixed-use scheme, which will include the demolition of the former BHS building.

Bradford reveals Southern Gateway images 

The council has unveiled new CGIs for its 300-acre regeneration scheme, a project that could deliver up to 5,000 homes alongside new employment space, transport infrastructure, and public realm improvements as part of plans to double the size of the city centre.

Humber Freeport launches £3bn investment prospectus 

The development opportunities span 1,500 acres benefitting from financial incentives, with the potential to create 5,000 jobs over the next decade.

HEYCA launches local growth plan

The 10-year plan has identified the main areas of focus for investment as being the Humber Freeport sites in Hull and Goole, the regeneration of Hull’s Western Docklands, and the long-term development potential of Bridlington Bay.

North West

Warrington fleshes out 300-acre masterplan for Bank Quay

Around 4,500 homes and 2m sq ft of commercial space could be delivered next door to the town’s main train station under plans being drawn up in response to the anticipated arrival of a new railway line between Liverpool and Manchester.

LCR picks first investment fund winners 

Understood to include office schemes at One Pall Mall Gardens and Martins Bank, six projects worth more than £200m will receive support from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s £2bn fund.

Midlands

Lincolnshire ‘here to deliver’ on £4.2bn pipeline 

Greater Lincolnshire says it’s on the brink of a defining moment as it heads to a major property summit with more than 80 “shovel ready” opportunities for investors this week.

‘UK’s largest’ MDC to drive £10bn East Birmingham regeneration

A regeneration body will be granted sweeping powers over planning and infrastructure in a bid to push through more than £10bn of building projects in the West Midlands.

West Midlands launches £3.8bn pot to unlock major schemes

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker says a multi-billion pound investment fund will usher in an unprecedented level of regeneration backing for the region, speaking at the launch of the initiative in Leeds.

Gleeds appointed to design Nottingham sports cluster

A plan to link up three top-class sporting sites in the East Midlands will become a major driver of growth for the region, according to Mayor Claire Ward.

Event coverage

UKREiiF Breakfast: How to Build a New Town

Jolly Harbour may not exist today, but the fictional town conjured up by those attending Place North’s Tuesday breakfast event served as a great testbed for conversations about placemaking best practice. The event was sponsored by Rapleys, A+B Engineering, and Wigan and Leigh College.

Place Media Drinks Reception 

After a busy day of meetings, panel discussions, queuing for coffee, searching for signal, and hot-footing it between Leeds Dock and the city, attendees were able to relax and unwind at Place’s reception drinks at Revolución de Cuba on Call Lane. The event was sponsored by Kuits Solicitors, CPW, Curtins, BTG Eddisons, and Brown & Brown.

UKREiiF Breakfast: Delivering in Uncertain Times

The last 10 years have brought us wars, political uncertainty at home and abroad, Brexit, and a pandemic. Panellists at Place North’s Wednesday breakfast conference discussed how the sector has delivered amid the chaos and how it will continue to do so in the future.  The event was sponsored by Brabners, ArbTech, Onward Homes, Leeds College of Building, and Pegasus Group.