Muse + Partners at UKREiiF 2026: Key Moments

For the third year in a row, we returned to Fearns at the Department at UKREiiF for an insightful and inspiring programme centred on the power of partnership in placemaking.

It was an excellent few days in Leeds. We hosted a series of insightful discussions, which allowed us to hear different perspectives, share ideas and connect with partners involved in shaping the future of communities up and down the country.

Through it all, one thing was clear: we are all ambitious, determined, and committed to driving the delivery of impactful placemaking.

Partnerships at the forefront

As a business we place a strong focus on partnership in the many places we work across the UK, working together with local and regional authorities and partners through our strategic joint ventures.

UKREiiF was a stage to explore our significant strategic pipeline with partners, delving into the wide range of emerging visions that are shaping the future of cities and towns across the country.

At the outset, we looked to the North West with a breakfast networking session with some of Greater Manchester’s key regional leaders from Manchester City Council, Stockport Council and Oldham Council.

As we’re working in six boroughs in Greater Manchester, this was a valuable opportunity to further discuss the partnerships, places, and strategies shaping the area’s transformation. It was clear that shared vision, understanding, and risk is a necessity for success.

Focus was firmly on Yorkshire & North East too. Down the road from Leeds in Wakefield, we are working in partnership with Wakefield Council to deliver a thriving city centre. Alongside our partners, we explored our ambitions, aims, and what to expect from the Cathedral Quarter in the coming years.

Meanwhile, UKREiiF also offered a stage to explore how Bradford’s City Village is building investor confidence through delivery, partnership and a strong sense of place. Speakers reflected on how progress across the city, from public realm improvements and infrastructure investment to Braford 2025 and growing civic confidence, is helping to change perceptions and unlock long-term regeneration opportunities.

Looking to the South, we hosted an insightful discussion on Bristol Temple Quarter, with the Mayor of the West of England, Helen Godwin, joining us and speakers from the West of England Business Board and Bristol Temple Quarter LLP to outline the vision and next steps for Temple Meads West.

As part of discussions on how bold, design led station gateway projects can enhance connectivity, strengthen identity, and unlock long-term economic and social value, the £1bn Station Gateway masterplan being delivered by ECF and Stevenage Borough Council was at the centre of discussions.

As well as looking to the future, UKREIIF was also a time of reflection. 2026 marks 25 years since the creation of ECF – the placemaking supergroup between Muse, Homes England and L&G.

We used the opportunity to reflect on what long-term public private partnership has enabled – from patient capital and shared risk to local leadership and public sector support – and what it offers in today’s more complex delivery environment.

ECF, Salford City Council and the University of Salford also explored how long-term public-private partnerships have made their mark on Salford’s diverse communities, and what the next 100 years of transformation could deliver.

Key announcements

This year once again provided us and our partners with a platform for several key announcements and milestones.

The Midlands was at the forefront of this. Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker, backed the first phases of Holbeche Place in Solihull, with around £20m of funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority.

The investment will be used to support the delivery of the first two phases, which will see the construction of 346 built-to-rent homes, followed by 228 affordable homes – setting the foundation for the delivery of the wider masterplan.

Meanwhile during a fishbowl panel which was attended by our Head of Social Value and Sustainability, Syreeta Bayne, independent social and environmental charity, ReGenerate, previewed its upcoming report on building for better outcomes, which we’re proud to have contributed to.

Hot topics in placemaking

Our few days in Leeds gave us an opportunity to lead conversations into some of the sector’s hot topics.

As industries have shifted and economies have evolved, many of the UK’s coastal communities have been left facing challenges.

But these locations remain places of enterprise and invention. Places integral to our future, as they have been in the past – economic hubs, cultural centres, and places which great people call home, all year round.

At UKREiiF, this subject was centre stage. Alongside representatives from Plymouth City Council, BCP Council, and Homes England, we explored how place-led regeneration across the South Coast can unlock long term economic resilience, strengthen connectivity and create neighbourhoods where people can live, work and thrive.

On our second day, we ran a breakfast session with partners from Team Barrow, including Westmorland and Furness Council and Haptic Architects, exploring what comes next for Barrow as exciting plans for Marina Village move into delivery.

Rounding off our focus on coastal regeneration, our session alongside Blackpool Council, Business in the Community (BITC) and Department for Work & Pensions discussed the factors behind the iconic seaside destination’s £350m renaissance, outlining what’s on the horizon, and sharing how taking a holistic approach to placemaking can encourage regeneration beyond the red lines.

As we look to build on our strong track record and convert our extensive pipeline into delivery, viability was also on the agenda. We explored whether the sector is asking the right questions about viability, and where we can change our thinking.

This included a session where Habiko convened local authority leaders to explore how to unlock housing delivery in a challenging viability landscape. It highlighted our accelerating work through the national partnership with Homes England and Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC), which is focused on delivering affordable, low-carbon, low-energy homes for rent across England – with a target delivery of 3,000 homes over a 12-year period. Sometimes there is a perceived conflict between sustainability and viability, but we need to reframe sustainability as a long-term value driver rather than a cost.

A look to the future

As a business we are committed to supporting early careers, skills and access to the industry, including initiatives such as the Muse Academy and partnerships with education providers and organisations supporting routes into the sector.

It was therefore fitting for us to close of our programme with a focus firmly on the future.

Our Managing Director Phil Mayall, and Apprentice Project Manager, Raheim Clemetson joined a panel with Accession Network, exploring how we can further open up our industry to be more diverse and accessible, not just to get young professionals into development, but to support them to grow and stay.

We later hosted an inspiring networking lunch focused on the next generation of professionals entering the built environment sector.

During this we heard insights into careers and pathways in the sector from our team members and partner organisations which included the Regeneration Brainery, Future of Greater Manchester, and GM Regeneration Skills Academy.

We then opened the session for those who joined us to connect and network with other young and aspiring professionals in regeneration and development and gain more insight from our team members.

It is clear to us that bringing together young people from different backgrounds, experiences and skill sets strengthens creativity and challenges established practices, enabling more holistic and future-focused solutions.

At Muse, we want to play our part in providing more opportunities to talented young professionals and encouraging all in the industry to continue to invest in creating clearer pathways, not just for the benefit of young people entering the industry, but to ensure we could nurture a broader, more diverse pool of talent from the very beginning of their careers.