RESi360 conference to assess Labour progress on housing | Property Week

Chancellor Rachel Reeves and deputy PM Angela Rayner tour a residential site in Oval on 8 July, led by Berkeley Group CEO Rob Perrins (right) – Pic: HM Treasury

The new Labour government has already made the residential sector a key focus of its policymaking, with Rachel Reeves using her first speech as chancellor to announce a consultation on a “growth-focused approach to the planning system […] including restoring mandatory housing targets”.

The chancellor also pledged to set up “a new taskforce to accelerate stalled housing sites […]  beginning with Liverpool Central Docks, Worcester Parkway, Northstowe and Langley Sutton Coldfield, representing more than 14,000 homes”.

In addition, Reeves stated that changes would not be limited to planning reform, but would include “the way that ministers use our powers for direct intervention”.

Beginning three months after Labour took office, RESi360 will provide a key opportunity to review progress on such pledges and to assess the policy landscape for residential development across all forms of tenure.

This year the multi-day event includes BTR360, with a stream of sessions dedicated to the booming build-to-rent market, plus the annual Trailblazer Awards, recognising young, up-and-coming residential property professionals who are making waves in the industry.

The agenda has been developed with the assistance of residential property experts from Savills, JLL, Knight Frank, Taylor Wimpey, British Land and the British Property Federation, among many others.

Property Week’s group events director Simone Broadhurst said: “The whole event has been shaped with delegates at the centre, with new interactive formats designed to encourage interaction and debate, as well as plenty of opportunities for one-to-one discussion, birds-of-a-feather meetings, and informal networking.”

RESi360 incorporating BTR360 will be held at the De Vere Wokefield Estate in Berkshire. It will kick off with ‘campfire’ sessions. Broadhurst explained: “These interactive sessions will start like a conventional panel, presenting a topic to the room, but the focus then shifts to the delegates with panellists not simply answering questions but inviting comments and contributions from attendees. The aim is to create a real dialogue.”

The agenda also features ‘lightning talks’ – fast-paced, 15-minute presentations with audience Q&As – plus a range of optional free-time activities from golf to an early morning 5K run.

Iain Murray, head of Operational Living at Bidwells, commented: “Bidwells is proud to be the headline partner for this year’s RESi360 event. Our new Operational Living team, led by me, has significant experience of the event.”

Murray added: “When it was presented to us as a return to the residential conference format, likened to Property Week’s former Celtic Manor event, we were sold. The conference has always been at the forefront of both the traditional residential market, and more recently Operational Living sectors including PBSA, co-living, BTR, single family housing and later living. RESi360 provides an opportunity for the industry to meet and exchange new ideas and innovations – and Bidwells can’t wait to take a leading role this year.”