Guest Blog:  David Martin, Co-Founder, Be Known

UK housing is facing a 'collision of challenges'.

Geopolitics. Local political uncertainty. Planning delays. Build costs. Regulation. Affordability. Viability.

That was the clear message from our Annual Residential Breakfast Forum at The Savoy, where leaders from across the public and private sectors came together to discuss the future of UK housing.

Marcus Dixon’s JLL market update set the tone for the morning...

Conflict in Iran and wider geopolitical uncertainty have slowed momentum. Local elections have left many councils under no overall control, adding further complexity to planning. Developers are being pushed to start new phases while still managing standing stock. Supply chain pressures, build costs and the challenge of the “risk free” rate continue to weigh on viability.

But there were also reasons for cautious confidence. 

Investment volumes remain robust, the UK continues to dominate living investment in Europe, and rental growth has picked up, with London outpacing the rest of the UK. JLL’s 2026 to 2030 forecasts also point to lower growth early on, followed by stronger sales growth later in the cycle.

The political question in the room was impossible to ignore: what would an Andy Burnham premiership mean for housing?

His Manchester record became a major talking point. Housing delivery in Greater Manchester has risen significantly during his time as Mayor compared with the previous eight years. Could “Manchesterism” become “UKism”?

The industry’s ask was simple: give us a period of calm...CIL, Section 106, the Building Safety Act, building regulations and new environmental levies are creating a cumulative burden that is increasingly difficult to price, plan and deliver against. The sector does not need no regulation but it also doesn't need more new regulations. It needs clarity, stability and time for the current framework to settle.

The panel also returned again and again to partnerships...

Good collaboration is not always frictionless. Public and private partners have different pressures, priorities and constraints. That creative tension can be productive, but only when there is honesty, trust, commercial realism, clear governance and an absolute commitment to delivery.

When it came to the issue of capital and funding, one thing was clear, traditional subsidy models are under real pressure. With the public purse stretched and viability squeezed, the future will depend on smarter investment structures, stronger partnerships and a more practical approach to unlocking mid-market housing.

A huge thank you to our speakers and panellists:

Marcus Dixon, Niki Kyriacou, Jennifer Murray, Lindsay Garratt, Thomasin Renshaw, Greg Hill and Joanne Drew,

The challenge is significant. So is the opportunity.