Circle Development was pleased to attend the Living UK Conference in London earlier this month, with Aled and Dean representing the team. Hosted by LD Events at The Oval, the event brought together investors, developers, designers, and policymakers from across the Living sector to explore current market conditions and future opportunities.
Despite the economic headwinds facing the construction and development industry, the mood at the event was one of cautious optimism. Across the panels and networking sessions, there was clear confidence that the sector remains well-positioned to recover and grow.
It was great to be part of the conversation at Living UK this year. What stood out most was the energy in the room. Despite short-term viability pressures, there is a clear belief that the sector is on the verge of its next cycle of growth.
Aled Williams, Director
Living UK key takeaways:
Investor confidence remains strong
One of the most consistent themes across the day was the continued strength of investor appetite. While viability remains tight in the short term, many expect market conditions to ease in the next 12 to 18 months, unlocking delayed capital.
-
Build to Rent (BtR) and Co-Living continue to be core areas of focus
-
Many expect capital committed in 2025 and 2026 to translate into active developments by 2027
Emerging focus on Single Family Housing
An important shift noted by multiple stakeholders is the growing interest in Single Family Housing (SFH) within the broader BtR model. Current estimates suggest that up to 30 percent of BtR investment is being reallocated to SFH, reflecting a more diversified investment strategy and growing demand for suburban rental products.
Senior living moves toward a rental future
Momentum is also building in the Senior Living sector, where a gradual move from ownership-led models to rental-based schemes is underway. This shift is expected to bring significant changes in design and operational delivery, aligning more closely with BtR and Co-Living schemes in terms of efficiency, layout, and service provision.
Planning reform highlighted as a critical enabler
A key session during the event was the Planning, Design, Delivery and Future proofing panel, where discussion focused on how planning policy can better support residential delivery.
Sentiment from the panel was clear. For stalled and delayed schemes to move forward, meaningful reform is required. Key proposals discussed included:
-
Staged planning consents to improve flexibility across delivery timelines
-
Wider use class definitions to allow for more adaptable, mixed-tenure development from the outset
These changes were widely viewed as vital to unlocking stalled projects and enabling the sector to meet future housing demand more effectively.
Looking ahead
For Circle Development, Living UK provided a timely and valuable moment to engage with peers and reflect on where the sector is heading. The consensus is that while today’s challenges are real, they are temporary. The fundamentals remain strong and the next two years present a major opportunity to prepare for a new wave of activity.
We are committed to staying at the forefront of this conversation and continuing to shape the future of rental living through well-designed, sustainable, and community-led developments.
