Resilient Cities

As city leaders, investors and developers look to drive sustainable post‑pandemic growth and recovery, there is renewed energy to tackle major global issues head-on.

We believe this is an exciting moment to reboot. This year we have chosen the theme of Resilient Cities, to focus on how we can work together as an industry to enable social, environmental, and economic sustainability, post-pandemic.

This year’s programme covers everything from the state of the market to the importance of social value, clean tech, transport, green finance and more. You’ll have access to 30 sessions over three stages, 4 receptions with networking opportunities throughout.

Day 1

	Hall Stage	Cinema Stage	Auditorium
9:30	Resilient Cities: seizing the post‑pandemic opportunity The pandemic has proven that our cities and citizens are vulnerable but also resilient. It has triggered a seismic shift in attitudes and behaviours. This means we have a renewed mandate to work together to ensure sustainable UK cities are ready for a more agile and adjusted future. Place based investment and development will be needed to take action to drive social, environmental and economic city resilience. Panel Greg Clark CBE (Chair) Andy Street, West Midlands
10:15	Break
10:45	State of the market We discuss the big-picture trends, key policy changes and opportunities for growth across different sectors. What are the global, regional, and local conditions of which we should be aware as we transition from crisis management to recovery? Are existing economic policies fit for purpose? What will be the key areas for investment opportunity in 2021 and beyond? Panel Ian Stewart, Deloitte	Living: homes for changing needs In association with JLL How should our homes of the future be built to meet changing human needs? As we face a rising and aging population, how can the industry assure that the diversity of requirements are met to create sustainable and affordable housing aimed at students, senior living and co-living habitation. Panel Simon Hodson, JLL (Chair)	Brent Cross Town In association with Argent Related At the heart of the Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration programme, it is a joint venture between Argent Related and Barnet Council. The large-scale mixed-use development includes new homes, retail and offices, improved schools and greenspaces.
11:30	Break
12:00	Enabling ESG investment In association with JLL The environmental and social impact of city development and investment has shot up the agenda. ESG is no longer a tick box exercise; it now sits at the heart of corporate purpose and is becoming a key framework for investment decisions. This session will discuss what this means for our investment practices, city plans, development strategies, and ultimately the new places we create. Panel Guy Grainger, JLL Tim Weightman, Places for People Angela Russell, Greystar	Social value and why it is so important In association with Trowers & Hamlins This panel explores the ways in which city investment, planning and development can drive positive social change for city residents, and what long-term strategies are needed to measure the impact and value we bring to communities. Panel Sara Bailey, Trowers & Hamlins (Chair) Marcus Bate, Mount Anvil Siobhan Jared, Transport for London	Canada Water Masterplan In association with British Land The Canada Water Masterplan is a partnership between British Land, Southwark Council and the local community to create an outstanding new town centre for Southwark and London that complements the local area, making an active, positive, long-term contribution to local life.
12:45	Lunch
14:00	Future workplaces In association with Savills The digitalisation of many working environments and our relationship to how and where we work has changed dramatically over the last year. This panel will discuss how we can rethink the workplace offer, and design to better allow for flexible working patterns, as well as respond to the needs of the occupier, for whom wellbeing, accessibility, and sustainability front of mind. Panel Katrina Kostic Samen, Savills (Chair) Oliver Knight, Landsec Linda Woolley, Kingsley Napley Dr. Craig Knight, Psychologist	Retrofit: re-purposing and futureproofing In association with Waterman Group Retrofit, transformation and reuse of existing buildings is crucial to support our journey to meeting net-zero carbon targets. Alongside environmental benefits, what are the commercial and social returns of retrofit? How can we design buildings for longevity and future re-use? What kind of investment programmes do we need to make this happen? Panel Rachael Owens, Buckley Gray Yeoman Emma Harvey, Green Finance Institute Richard Whitehead, Waterman Group	Meridian Water In association with Enfield Enfield presents Meridian Water, a major regeneration programme bringing 10,000 homes and 6,000 jobs to Enfield, north London. Meridian Water will be a distinctive neighbourhood designed to nurture economic environmental and social sustainability, in addition to welcoming future industries across digital, creative, and cultural sectors in particular.
14:45	Break
15:15	Towards net zero Reaching net zero targets is high on everyone’s agenda. The built environment will need to go further and pave the way to both a low carbon and circular future. Covid-19 and the climate emergency have exposed the need to act. We explore the industry’s call to action in addressing climate change and our journey to a greener, zero-carbon London. Panel Gary Clark, HOK	What’s next for city centres? What do the future of city centres post-pandemic look like? And what policies should be put in place to guarantee the best sustainable and economic outcomes for city centres across the UK? Panel Alexander Jan, Central District Alliance	City of London markets co‑location programme In association with the City of London and Deloitte This briefing will share plans for the co-location of three of London’s historic markets – Billingsgate Fish Market, New Spitalfields Fruit & Veg Market and Smithfield Meat Market into one single site in Barking & Dagenham. We’ll discuss the economic and development prospects presented by the move and the opportunities it unlocks for both its new neighbourhood and the central London spaces they vacate. Panel Mathew Evans-Pollard, Deloitte
16:00	Break
16:30	Cultural-led regeneration The culture sector contributed £34.6 billion to the economy in 2019 and will be playing an essential role in driving the economic recovery post-pandemic. What are cities doing to support this recovery and how can we use sport, arts and culture to bring people back together? What role can cultural places and spaces play in creating dynamic and sustainable places, and driving growth? Panel John Mulryan, Ballymore Rosanna Lawes, LLDC	Repurposing real estate In association with Knight Frank This session explores how we are repurposing buildings to make them fit for purpose - delivering mixed-use schemes that suit post-pandemic behaviours. What impact will new planning policies have on unlocking opportunities for adaption and change-of-use? How can capital flows feed into this? What approaches need to be taken to ensure our future city neighbourhoods are dynamic, socially inclusive, and environmentally resilient? Panel Binki Taylor, The Brixton Project Holly Russell-Kennedy, Ballymore John McElgunn, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners	Royal Docks In association with Royal Docks Synopsis to follow.

Day 2

	Hall Stage	Cinema Stage	Auditorium
9:30	Our future urban life In association with JLL A growing and aging population. Climate change. Digitalisation and new technology. Social and economic inequality. Our cities and urban environments will need to respond to accelerating trends and play a critical role in tackling global issues. How does the real estate industry need to respond? How can we create resilient future cities that respond to our changing human needs? What kind of future do we want to create?	Harnessing data and technology How can we harness big data to better understand and manage our urban environments? How can technology help us to deliver more efficient and environmentally sustainable buildings? What role will artificial intelligence and digital twins play in shaping our future cities? We discuss how new digital infrastructure, technological innovation and smart buildings will ensure future resilience and improve quality of life. Panel Bola Abisogun, DiverseCity Surveyors (Chair) Theo Blackwell, Greater London Authority Tomáš Jurdák, MiddleCap Kelly Becker, Schneider Electric Gavin Chandler, Sir Robert McAlpine	Ox-Cam Arc: a new model for planning In association with Bidwells The Oxford-Cambridge Arc is home to world leading universities and is at the heart of the UK’s booming life sciences and innovation sectors. This session will explore how the Arc is being delivered, the challenges of aligning a transport, environment and housing strategy cohesively across 26 local authorities while also meeting the needs of businesses and universities.
10:15	Break
10:45	Planning for sustainable growth In association with Deloitte This session explores long-term approaches to planning and placemaking. How can we create places that support sustained economic growth across the area? What kind of investment is needed to create socially and environmentally sustainable cities? What impact will new planning policies have on development strategies? What innovative approaches are being implemented to support lasting improvements to the environment, green infrastructure, and biodiversity. Panel Lisa Fairmaner, Greater London Authority (Chair) Juliette Morgan, British Land Mark Underwood, Deloitte	Future streets and public spaces This session explores our evolving relationship with our streets and public spaces. How will new transport innovations and a new drive to enable walkable, net zero cities impact our approach to placemaking? What role will public spaces play in creating healthy, equitable and desirable neighbourhoods? What investment do we need to achieve this? Panel Dr Chris Pateman-Jones, Connected Kerb Ruth Duston, Midtown	Scotland is innovation – creating investment opportunities through innovation districts Scotland has a long history of innovation and it continues to strengthen and broaden this across the country as it creates new innovation districts. These innovation districts provide the infrastructure, workspace and business support needed to allow stakeholders and occupiers to thrive and develop, creating new networks to help drive forward the latest technologies, scientific discoveries and world leading engineering. This panel explores the latest progress in Scotland’s largest innovation districts and the opportunities they will provide as they seek investor partners to deliver these world leading projects.
11:30	Break
12:00	Housing delivery In association with Deloitte Affordability, sustainability, innovation. This session will discuss the latest targets, opportunities, trends, and delivery approaches in housing delivery in London, and other major UK cites. What challenges and barriers are the industry facing? What policies and partnership models do we need to enable the right kind of investment and large-scale delivery we need? Panel Graeme Craig, Transport for London Adina David, Greystar Geeta Nanda OBE, G15 Harry Swales, Homes England	Future logistics: a pioneering sector In association with Savills and Prologis The logistics industry has had to respond and adapt rapidly during the pandemic, bringing about both challenges and opportunities. Mixing industrial and residential spaces to create industrial hubs around cities is high on the agenda; this panel discusses how solution-based innovation, new tech and automation can pave the way for a strong sector recovery. Panel Bridget Outtrim, Savills Robin Woodbridge, Prologis UK	SE1 Innovation District In association with Southwark and Lambeth Synopsis to follow.
12:45	Lunch
14:00	Polycentric cities In association with Trowers & Hamlins This session discusses how the physical shape of our UK cities, and the relationship between interconnected town centres, drives the city’s economy. How will polycentricity support city resilience and prosperity? How will new working and commuting patterns impact the role of outer economic hubs? What does this mean for city-wide planning and investment strategies? Panel Eileen Duncan, Trowers & Hamlins Robert Evans, Argent/ Argent Related	From knowledge to innovation: the life sciences economy In association with JLL Examining the UK’s role in the knowledge economy on the global stage. How can we shape our cities to promote and enable innovation? What are the major and emerging knowledge clusters across the UK and how are these clusters driving innovation? And how can real estate contribute to the companies and occupiers fuelling the innovation economy? Panel Chris Walters, JLL Toby Reid, We Are Pioneer Group Kath Mackay, Bruntwood SciTech	Resilient London – adapting to climate change The climate emergency not only urges the built environment sector to drastically cut carbon emissions but also poses crucial questions about how our cities will adapt to a changing climate. From extreme weather events to overheating, from flooding to sea level rising, how can cities respond to these challenges? What are the current strategies and approaches that will make our cities resilient and who is taking a lead in developing innovative solutions? What are the funding mechanisms that will support the implementation of these strategies?
14:45	Break
15:15	Resurgence of retail In association with Savills This panel discusses the future of retail in a post-covid world. How is the sector is responding to major shifts in consumer behaviour? How can we facilitate the right blend of interconnected hybrid spaces that respond appropriately to location? Will we see a rise in ‘experience retail’ and will mixed-use consumer experience hubs? What opportunities are there for new funding mechanisms, creative uses, and partnerships? How can we reimagining retail spaces to support the changing needs of the landlords, tenants, and residents?	Modular housing Synopsis to follow. Panel Gareth Bradford, West Mindlands Combined Authority Geoff Pearce, Swan Housing Group	Net zero innovation project showcase Our Net Zero Innovation session showcases leading projects that are responding to the climate emergency by pioneering design and green technologies to reduce carbon and reach Net Zero targets. Panel Derek Wilson, Transport for London Neil Pennell, Landsec
16:00	Break
16:30	The West End international centre In association with NWEC and Westminster Synopsis to follow. Panel Amanda Sheppard, Grosvenor Britian & Ireland Andy Byford, Transport for London Richard Metcalfe, Outernet Global	Power of partnerships Synopsis to follow. Panel Killian Hurley, Mount Anvil Tonia Secker, Trowers & Hamlins Heng Leong Cheong, Ecoworld	Clean tech In association with Southwark and Lambeth Synopsis to follow.

Please note: speakers are still being confirmed and the programme is updated regularly.