The Housing Forum National Conference 2026: Fixing the Housing Ecosystem - Solutions in Action

Join us for The Housing Forum National Conference 2026: Fixing the Housing Ecosystem – Solutions in Action.

2026 has been a year of significant change for both the housing sector and The Housing Forum. As new policies, investment opportunities, technologies and delivery models reshape the landscape, the need for collaboration across the housing ecosystem has never been greater.

Join leaders from across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors for a day of discussion, insight and practical action. We’ll explore some of the most persistent challenges facing housing today, drawing on new research, expert perspectives and real-world case studies to understand what is working, where opportunities lie and how innovation can translate into meaningful change.

Most importantly, the conference will bring people together to share ideas, challenge thinking and build the connections essential for better housing outcomes.

As before, all THF members will benefit from two complimentary places, apart from Local Authority members who are permitted to one complimentary place each.

PROGRAMME

08:45 – Registration, breakfast and networking

09:30 – Welcome and Introduction | Alex Notay, Chief Executive, The Housing Forum

09:40 – UK Market Update | Lucian Cook, Head of UK Residential Research, Savills

One of the UK’s leading housing market experts, Lucian Cook, is widely recognised for his analysis of residential market trends, policy impacts and housing delivery.

In this keynote market update, he will provide an incisive overview of the economic, political and investment forces shaping the housing sector in 2026, offering delegates essential insights into the opportunities and challenges facing the housing ecosystem.

10:00 – International Keynote followed by Q&A | Harold Spies, CEO and Founder, Similan Group, South Africa

The UK housing ecosystem is under intense pressure: from affordability and viability to climate stress and skills constraints. The challenges are clear but our sector can too often fall into a repetitive echo chamber when searching for solutions.

To open this year’s Housing Forum National Conference we are taking a deliberately different approach.

Harold Spies, CEO and Founder of Similan Group (South Africa), will bring a fresh perspective on driving innovation and delivering world-leading sustainable housing across tenures under real-world constraints; from political instability to drought and energy insecurity.

Drawing on the globally recognised Newinbosch development – named Best Sustainable Development in the World at the 2026 International Property Awards – Harold will share practical insights on building urban resilience, sustainable communities and what these best practice lessons could mean for the UK housing ecosystem.

10:40 – Plenary panel: Future-proofing the Sector – AI in the Housing Ecosystem

Dr Guy Marshall, HALIE (Housing AI Leadership and Implementation Exchange)Vijay Patel, Head of AI Product and Delivery, Wates ResidentialChenai Gondo, CEO, RealService and Experience MakersDamian Wild, Managing Director, ING Media

Lucy Pitt, Co-Founder, Uptake AI

AI is no longer a future trend; it is already reshaping how housing organisations engage residents, manage homes and make decisions. As adoption accelerates, housing leaders face critical questions about capability, ethics, governance and trust.

This plenary panel brings together pioneers from across housing, technology and communications to examine where AI is delivering tangible results today, where caution is required, and how the sector can harness its benefits while managing the risks.

11:25 – Coffee break and networking

11:55 – Breakout sessions:

• Bridging the Quality Gap

Chair: Jamie Ratcliff, Chair, The Housing Forum and Founder, PlaceBase

Emma Fletcher, Innovation Director, Octopus Energy,

Jenny Danson, CEO and Founder, Healthy Homes Hub

Jason Shingleton, Group Innovation Director, Genuit Group

Richard Cook, Chief Development Office, Clarion Housing Group

The housing sector is being challenged to build and retrofit homes that are safer, healthier, lower-carbon and better designed than ever before. But with new regulatory demands, cost pressures and ambitious delivery targets, how can organisations continue to innovate while meeting rising expectations of quality? Bringing together leaders from housing, construction, energy and design, this session will explore how the sector can close the gap between ambition and delivery, ensuring better homes and better outcomes for residents.

• Research Launch: The Living Sector as a Devolutionary Engine presented by Close Brothers Property Finance, JLL and the Housing Forum

Chair: Alex Notay, CEO, The Housing Forum

Chiara Caldwell, Managing Director, Structured Finance, Close Brothers Property Finance

Marcus Dixon, UK Head of Living and Residential Research, JLL

Michela Hancock, CEO, Hilltop Property Partners

Cllr Lorna Fielker, Leader of the Council, Southampton

Exclusive launch of research on how PBSA, co-living and Build to Rent can aid towns and cities in retaining talent to drive local growth.

12:40 – Lunch and networking

13:40 – Breakout sessions:

• The Role of Private Capital in Affordable Housing

Chair: Tim Reid, Customer Relationship Director, NHBC

Catherine Raynsford, MD Major Stock Acquisitions, Legal and General Affordable Homes

Phil Jenkins Chief Investment Officer, Peabody

Jane Jeffery, Managing Director, Head of Real Estate UK, Urban Partner

Jennifer Murray, Executive Director, Equity, National Housing Bank

As demand for affordable housing continues to rise and public finances remain constrained, private capital is becoming an increasingly important part of the housing delivery landscape. But who is investing, what are they looking for, and are current policy and regulatory frameworks helping or hindering investment? Bringing together leading investors, lenders and housing providers, this panel will examine the realities of the market, the arrival of new sources of capital and the partnerships needed to deliver affordable homes at scale.

• Getting Through the Gateways: Making the Building Safety System Work

Chair: Katie Saunders, Deputy Chair, THF, Partner, trowers & hamlins

Stevan Tennant, Managing Director, Ballymore

Philippa Prongue, Executive Managing Director, Wates Residential

Paul O’Connor, Head of Public Sector Consulting, Bellrock

Jeff Endean, Director, Cast

The Building Safety Regulator, Gateway process and Building Safety Levy have transformed the delivery of new homes, creating new challenges for viability, programme certainty and investment. This session brings together industry leaders to discuss what’s working, where the bottlenecks remain, and how the building safety regime can evolve to deliver both safer buildings and the homes the country urgently needs.

14:30 – Breakout sessions:

• Research Launch: Council Housebuilding and the Future of Local Government Housing Delivery

Chair: Alex Notay, Chief Executive, The Housing Forum

Presenter 1: Toby Fox, Founder, 1.5million New Homes and Partnerships Director, Housing and Development Network

Presenter 2: Dr Janice Morphet, Visiting Professor, UCL

Councillor Keith House, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Planning and Property, Eastleigh Borough Council

Ben Binns, Assistant Director of Development, Cambridge City Council

When Angela Rayner challenged councils to “examine your ambition and go further”, she set out a bigger role for local government in tackling the housing crisis. But how are councils responding, and what is helping or hindering delivery on the ground?

This session presents findings from two major new research projects. UCL’s 2026 national survey reveals how 95% of English local authorities are supporting housing delivery, while the latest 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge review examines whether government expectations match delivery realities.
Together, the findings offer fresh insight into what’s driving delivery, what’s getting in the way and what councils need to help meet the nation’s housing ambitions.

• Resizing Rightsizing – presentation on Radix Big Tent Housing Commission research

Chair: Ben Rich, CEO, Radix Big Tent Housing Commission

Lord Richard Best OBE, DL.James Pargeter, Senior Advisor, GAA

Michael Swiszczowski, Group Board Director, Chapman Taylor

Nearly 70% of over-65s live in homes with more bedrooms than they need, yet tax, cost and limited housing options often prevent a move.

This session examines the case for rightsizing as set out in the recent Radix Big Tent Housing Commission report; from Stamp Duty reform and specialist later-living housing to the opportunity to release family homes back into the market, improve wellbeing and reduce pressure on health and care services. What policy changes are needed to make moving easier and more attractive for older households?

15:20 – Speaking the Same Language – Futures Network Research Project Presentation Cohort 25-26

Chair: Marcus Yeomans, Senior Architect, HTA Design and Chair Futures Network 26-27

Anna Spencer, Land Manager, Wain Estates

Jasmin Reeve, Architect, PRP

Stephen Medhurst, Associate Director, Potter Raper and Deputy Chair, Futures Network 26-26

Sonia Cheung, Structural Engineer, Calford Seaden

Over the past year, the Futures Network 25-26 cohort has explored how different professions across the housing and development ecosystem communicate, collaborate and make decisions. In this session, the cohort presents the findings of its flagship research project, sharing insights on how greater understanding across disciplines can strengthen partnerships, improve outcomes and support better housing delivery. A thought-provoking perspective from the sector’s next generation of leaders.

16:05 – Catalyst Awards presentation sponsored by Vistry | Presented by immediate past Chair of The Housing Forum, Stephen Teagle, Vistry

16:20 – Conference summary and closing remarks | Jamie Ratcliff, Chair of The Housing Forum

16:30 – Conference close

Programme subject to changes.