PBII Network special bulletin: postcards from sunny Leeds Dock, UKREiiF 2025
The Good Economy team were fully immersed in UKREiiF this year where partnerships, place and devolution were all right at the top of the agenda.
The property and infrastructure event held in Leeds is only in its 4th year but is very much the event to be at for people across place-based sectors, housing and real estate, place-based investment and local and central government.
Our senior team spoke at no fewer than nine sessions in total across the three days, became fully ensconced in the optimism around the Royal Armouries Museum and New Dock and had countless conversations with people interested in how we envisage pension fund capital being used for place-based impact which is increasingly being labelled ‘local investing’.
Day 1: Into the breach…
An inspiring keynote kick-off session opened this year’s event, with Deputy PM Angela Rayner outlining the government’s plans for the systemic change needed to fix the housing system and “build, build, build” decent, good quality homes needed by the country.
The UKREiiF organisers said that attendee sentiment about the market improved 18% from last year, and the messages were ones of optimism.
All eyes were on finding the right partnerships, devolution and long-term solutions.
In that vein, The Good Economy hosted our PBII Network meeting in the Midlands Engine Pavilion. We explored how to attract more institutional investment into the Midlands, highlighting our new Place-Based Prosperity Report.
Both Sarah and Mark then joined leaders from Midlands Mindforge, Northern Gritstone and others for a lively discussion about patient capital and innovation in university spin-outs.
We ended day one with our “Pushing the Boundaries of Regeneration” networking event, hosted in partnership with Thriving Investments, igloo Regeneration and the Impact Investing Institute. A big thank you to everyone who brought energy, insight and curiosity to the conversation. It was a great way to round off a packed first day.
Day 2: In the thick of it
The second day of any conference is where the action – and the conversation – really takes off.
Sam attended a roundtable hosted by G2M that tackled a vital but often underexplored issue: how can we better preserve and enhance the UK’s existing private rental housing stock? “The Preservation and Improvement of Low Cost, Existing Rental Homes: True Place-Based Investment?” brought together a diverse and passionate group of leaders from across the public, private, and third sectors. The conversation delved into the practical challenges and overlooked opportunities in improving low-cost rental homes. At the heart of the discussion: a collective recognition that housing is more than infrastructure—it’s a cornerstone of social cohesion, economic stability, and environmental responsibility
Mark joined a conversation on “Inclusive Growth – and How to Unlock It”, hosted by Darren Rodwell. Drawing on lessons from Barking and Dagenham, the panel explored how inclusive growth can be delivered on the ground. Mark offered a memorable analogy – an “ostrich approach” with two strong legs: social infrastructure and international business investment. It was a powerful reminder that long-term success depends on both strong local foundations and global connections.
Sam also joined a Bidwells and ARL (Association of Rental Living) panel on regional investment. There was broad agreement that embedding social value is essential to delivering outcomes that matter to communities, but there is still work to do to make this the norm across the investment landscape
Meanwhile Sarah joined Great South West to explore place-based investment opportunities in clean energy. A vital conversation about how to support sustainable and inclusive growth in the region.
Day 3: The final stretch
Up bright and early, Sam heard from the three Yorkshire Mayors as they shared their White Rose Agreement – a promising example of place-based coalition building in progress.
Elsewhere, Amy finally emerged from the Enterprising Cumbria Pavilion, where she’d set up camp over two days to engage in conversations on regeneration and inclusive growth. From the revitalisation of towns to new developments like St Cuthbert’s Garden Village, the message has been clear: build on strengths, pride and potential, not just respond to need. As Lord Khan put it, we need to focus on what communities already have…
The team finished the week off with a visit to the Bradford Showcase, on the fringes of UKREiiF – where they heard from Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe on the progress they are making on their ambitious regeneration programme. It was an upbeat end to three days at UKREiiF.
We hope you found this bulletin useful. If you’d like to follow up on any of the themes or conversation above, get n touch with one of the team:
Sam Monger, head of PBII and strategic advisory: sam.monger@thegoodeconomy.co.uk
Sarah Forster, co-founder and CEO: sarah@thegoodeconomy.co.uk
Mark Hepworth, co-founder and director, research and policy: mark@thegoodeconomy.co.uk
Amy Ingham, senior consultant, housing & real estate impact: amy@thegoodeconomy.co.uk
