Tuesday, 7 July 2026
Housing should become the central focus of the UK’s newly formed Real Estate:UK (RE:UK) as it seeks to rebuild the real estate sector’s influence with government, investors and the public, according to a new discussion paper published by three former senior figures from the British Property Federation (BPF).
The paper, The Delivery Mandate: How Real Estate:UK can earn influence, was authored by Andrew Teacher, Peter Cosmetatos and Ian Fletcher.
RE:UK was established through the merger of the British Property Federation, the Association of Real Estate Funds (AREF) and the Investment Property Forum (IPF), bringing together organisations representing property owners, investors, fund managers and advisers.
The authors argue that the UK real estate sector has become less influential in public policy debates and public discussion in recent years, and that RE:UK has an opportunity to strengthen the industry’s role by demonstrating how long-term property investment can contribute to addressing national economic and social priorities.
The report recommends placing housing at the centre of RE:UK’s policy agenda, arguing that institutional investment could help increase housing delivery where planning policies, regulation and investment conditions provide sufficient certainty.
According to the paper, the contribution of real estate extends beyond residential development. The authors argue that institutional capital can also support investment in healthcare facilities, research and development, logistics infrastructure, data centres, defence assets, advanced manufacturing and urban regeneration.
Rather than focusing primarily on industry lobbying, the report recommends that RE:UK position itself as a partner in helping government address wider economic and social challenges. It also encourages the organisation to engage proactively with policymakers during the development of regulation, rather than responding only after legislative proposals have been finalised.
The authors further argue that well-designed regulation can improve market standards, enhance consumer confidence and distinguish professional operators from weaker parts of the market that have contributed to reputational challenges for the sector. They also recommend establishing a permanent in-house capability that combines communications, public affairs, policy expertise and research to support evidence-based engagement with policymakers and other stakeholders.
The report further recommends broadening RE:UK’s membership to reflect today’s investment landscape, including pension funds, overseas investors, private capital and specialist real estate operators. It concludes that the organisation should make housing the foundation of its public policy agenda, engage earlier in regulatory discussions, balance external advocacy with effective internal delivery, and build trust and credibility before seeking greater influence.
The discussion paper was published ahead of RE:UK’s inaugural annual conference, where industry leaders are expected to discuss the future direction of the UK’s real estate sector.
