Planning is set to take centre stage at the upcoming UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) – and rightly so.
For the RTPI, UKREiiF offers a critical platform to engage directly with MPs, Peers, and key stakeholders, as we continue to champion the planning profession and raise awareness of our priorities for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which is at a pivotal stage. We also look forward to engaging with delegations from across the devolved nations who will also be in attendance.
But this year, the conversation goes far beyond housing targets. It’s about ensuring we have the workforce in place to deliver the scale of transformation our planning system requires.
One of the biggest issues we’re tackling is the future of the Level 7 apprenticeship route – a vital pathway into the profession. Following late-2024 announcements that government plans may shift funding responsibilities onto employers, uncertainty still looms.
Most recently, it’s been reported that only 16 to 21-year-olds may be exempt from proposed cuts to public funding, raising serious concerns about the accessibility and sustainability of training routes. UKREiiF presents a timely opportunity to explore how we can protect and futureproof this crucial route into planning.
Immigration reform is another topic that’s sure to dominate conversations. Recent Government announcements aimed at reducing net migration could have profound implications for workforce capacity in planning and across the built environment. With national and local government, developers, investors, and the wider built environment sector coming together in Leeds, we’ll be making sure this issue – and its implications for our profession – is firmly on the agenda.
Alongside these key policy discussions, collaboration remains a top priority. We’re partnering with the Institution of Civil Engineers, Royal Institute of British Architects, and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors to co-host the Built Environment Lounge. Under the theme Collaborating for Growth, the Lounge offers a space for members and attendees to connect, recharge, and reflect between sessions.
From the shop floor to private discussions, we’re keen to ensure planning is a part of every conversation at this year’s event. Our team has a packed schedule of private roundtable, networking receptions and panel sessions designed to spotlight the critical role of planners in achieving the UK’s ambitions, and making sure our members’ voices are front and centre in national debates.
