During the conference, current ULI UK Chairman, Chris Choa, announced Vanessa Hale, Director of Research at BNP Paribas Real Estate, as his replacement, starting in July this year. Vanessa’s speech, which gave an outline of her plans for ULI UK, set the tone for the day by focussing on how the built environment needs to prepare for future challenges, while also keeping an eye out for new opportunitie

Rate of Change

• Paul Donovan, Global Chief Economist, UBS Wealth Management
• Kimberley Matenchuk, Senior Director Sales, GE Digital
• Araceli Camargo, Cognitive Neuroscientist, Lab Director, Centric Lab
• Clare Thomas, Partner, CMS

The first panel focused on the topic of the growing role of technology in society. Moderated by CMS’s Clare Thomas, the panel covered the negative impacts that the internet and online shopping has had on retail property, with the fate of the high street rarely out of the headlines thanks to declining footfall and the financial woes facing many big-name retailers.

However, retail is not the only industry being upended by the internet.  And while many jobs are being lost to automation, there was still optimism among the panel who were quick to recognise that it isn’t a simple case of a shrinking pool of jobs – but rather that opportunities are appearing, as much as they are disappearing, as our use of technology evolves.

Future Vision

• David Warburton, Head of Land and Development, West Midlands Combined Authority
• May Al-Karooni, CEO & Founder, Globechain
• Eva Grosman, Chief Executive, Centre for Democracy and Peace Building
• Alexandra Notay, Build To Rent Fund Director, PfP Capital

Moderated by Alexandra Notay, the panel spoke about the growing public disdain for anything labelled as urban regeneration, with all cases of regeneration now sadly seen as gentrification. The solution, it was argued, comes from seeding areas with growth anchors that will bring with them affordable housing projects and the creation of local opportunities.

Social mobility was also discussed with Eva Grosman, from the Centre of Democracy and Peace Building, leading the discussion. Whilst in Belfast she encountered 94% segregated living between religious groups, and a 93% separation in education environments. The difficulty, she notes, was that there was still a desire to maintain barriers between social groups. Fostering connectivity in land use could be used to overcome these hurdles and secure the final mantra of the session; the breaking of barriers.

InfoBurst: Urban Art Forum – Cultural Placemaking

• Megan Piper, Co-Founder, The Line

Hosted by Megan Piper, this InfoBurst was a deep dive into three of London’s urban art projects called Bold Tendencies, Folkestone Triennial, and The Line, an arts walk along the Greenwich Meridian co-founded by Megan.

The talk was used to highlight the demand for cultural engagement in urban environments, as proven by successful crowdfunding by The Line and the huge community impact of Folkestone Triennial. In Folkestone’s case there has been a £5.8 million boost to local community, thanks to the additional job creation and tourism.

Fresh Perspectives

• Boudewijn Ruitenburg, Chief Operating Officer & Member of the Board, EDGE Technologies
• Rachel Dickie, Head of Urban Regeneration, L&G Capital
• John Walker, CEO, CRATE
• Ali Ravanshad, Founder & CEO, dandi
• Jon Lovell, Founder & CEO, Hillbreak

At the first panel after lunch, innovation was the name of the game. Each panellist was able to relay their own methods of offering innovative client and customer support, such as John Walker, CEO of CRATE, a creative co-working provider, who discussed the creation of business ecosystems comprised of diverse and fragmented endeavours working alongside one another. At the other end of the scale Boudewijn Ruitenburg, of smart building specialists EDGE Technologies, addressed the needs of larger companies through technology enriched buildings.

The key takeaway message was of the intelligent application of resources in order to maximise outcomes.

Keynote session: Industry Influencers

• Lee Polisano, Founding Partner & President, PLP Architecture
• Peter Murray, Chairman, New London Architecture

New London Architecture’s Peter Murray and PLP Architecture’s Lee Polisano led the keynote session. The discussion focussed on architectural practices of inner cities, particularly London, and the need for cohesive design that permeates every level of planning. The need for ‘authentic’ city planning – the inclusion of shops, restaurants, and other amenities among business districts to give the impression of organic urban growth – was discussed.

On the subject of London’s glass towers, it was suggested that the failure of these buildings to be environmentally viable was being undermined by the drive for so called trophy buildings. The example of Sky TV’s EU headquarters was provided as an example of iconic and impressive architecture that avoids falling into the trap of becoming a trophy building. However, the Heron Tower was cited a successful example of mixed-use development.

InfoBurst: Later Living

• Stephanie McMahon, Head of Research, BNP Paribas Real Estate

The need for later living housing was addressed by Stephanie McMahon of BNP Paribas Real Estate in the conference’s second InfoBurst. The lack of suitable accommodation that avoids falling into the camps of expensive retirement spas or fully-fledged care homes which reduce the agency of occupants was identified as a key growth driver for the sector.

Stephanie also provided insights into how BTR can be repurposed to provide later living accommodation, and how to maximise the demand for such facilities by offering care to tenants only at their request as security for retirement – all the more pertinent given the UK’s greying population.

Capital Markets – Where’s the Smart Money Going?

• Edward M. Siskind, Founder & CEO, Cale Street Partners
• Eleanor Jukes, Senior Strategist, Legal & General Investment Management
• Laure Duhot, Head of Investment & Capital Markets – Europe, Landlease
• Hunt Doering, Managing Director, Baupost Group International LLP
• Kari Pitkin, Former Managing Director, Co-Head EMEA Real Estate, Gaming & Lodging, Bank of America Merrill Lynch

In the final discussion panel of the day, the topic was investment. The format was a series of multiple-choice questions, which gave way to a round table discussion. Manchester was cited as a top investment location and Build to Rent was favoured as a key investment sector, while The Shard was agreed to be one of the best sites to own, which the Emir of Qatar will no doubt be pleased to hear.

Reflections and Opportunities

• Marc Mogull, Chairman and Chief Investment Officer, Benson Elliot
• Andy Martin, Chief Executive Officer, BNP Paribas Real Estate
• Simon Clark, Former Partner and Head of European Real Estate, Linklaters
• Chris Choa, Vice President, AECOM
• Vanessa Hale, Director, Research, BNP Paribas Real Estate

The day concluded with insights from ULI UK leadership past, present and future. Noting the pace of change it was thought that, in the words of Heraclitus, ‘The Only Thing That Is Constant Is Change’.

The day’s lively panels and Q+A sessions provided a thought-provoking look towards the future of the built environment. Despite uncertainty in the field, speakers and guests alike shared in an optimistic and often excited view of what’s to come, with an agreement collaboration is needed on the harder topics of economic disparity and environmentalism.

Click here to visit the event page with photographs and presentations from the day.