Find out all about our biggest appearance so far at the forum
We’re excited to be returning to the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) and partnering with both Lancashire and Blackburn-with-Darwen as the Combined County Authority, to bring the power of Lancashire to Leeds.
The three-day event will take place between the 19th and 21st of May, and connects over 16,000 people, places and businesses to drive sustainable, inclusive and transformative investment and regeneration.
Come and find us at Stand J20 in Royal Armouries Hall.
At our stand, you can learn more about Blackpool’s £2bn+ regeneration programme including all the developments currently underway and to come in the town.
This includes ongoing projects like Talbot Gateway, the £350m redevelopment of the area surrounding Blackpool North train station, the £100m new offices for the Department of Work and Pensions, the new £65m Multiversity that’s just been granted planning consent, and much, much more.
We’ve also got fantastic development opportunities at Silicon Sands, our upcoming high-powered data centre, and Blackpool Central, a major development opportunity across a 10–12 acre site in the shadow of The Blackpool Tower.
We’ll also have loads of the crowd favourite, Blackpool rock, available to share with visitors to our stand. We’ve even infused our specialty rock to create a drink as extraordinary as Blackpool.
Head to our stand at 3.30pm on Tuesday 19th and Wednesday 20th to join in the fun and learn more about us over a taste!
Panels
Key members of Blackpool Council will be appearing on various panels and events throughout the forum:
Tuesday 19th May
AI in Real Estate – Nirvana or new bubble?
Location: Shepherd & Wedderburn
Time: 10.30 – 11.30am
Nick Gerrard, Growth and Prosperity Programme Director of Blackpool Council, will be speaking on this panel and he has over 30 years leading-edge, planning, urban regeneration, economic development and corporate management experience at the public/private interface.
Nick is leading the team implementing Blackpool’s £2bn+ Growth and Prosperity investment programme.
This thought-provoking discussion will explore how AI is affecting real estate. Developers, operators, funders and industry bodies in the UK discuss what they are seeing the market that is producing tangible results – and where it’s not working.
Downtown in Business Roundtable in partnership with Kier at UKREiiF
Location: Kier Pavillion
Time: 12.30-1.30pm
This senior-level discussion will bring together senior decision makers from the public and private sectors, to explore the next phase of devolution deals, the proposed expansion of fiscal powers for Combined Authorities, and the impact these reforms could have on development, regeneration, and economic growth.
With devolution high on the government’s agenda, this session provides a timely opportunity for an open and candid exchange between key decision-makers.
Event partner Kier is one of the UK’s leading construction and infrastructure businesses, delivers major projects across transport, housing, healthcare, and education-working closely with the public sector to support growth and regeneration.
Nick Gerrard will be speaking.
Regeneration or Reinvention? The hard choices for town centres
Location: Hotot Suite
Time: 2 – 3pm
Market halls, cinemas, public squares or complete demolition – just a few examples of local authorities and their private sector partners coming up with solutions to grapple with town centre challenges. What works and what doesn’t? What is the next trend and what does bold repositioning require both commercially and politically?
Nick Gerrard will be part of this roundtable discussion.
Wednesday 20th May
NW Business Insider Roundtable – The New Era of Delivery: Leveraging Joint Ventures to Deliver Complex Infrastructure at Pace
Location: The Terrace, 3 Wellington Pl, LS1 4AP
Time: 7.30 – 10am
The challenge is no longer just identifying what needs to be built, but how to deliver it in a climate of fiscal constraint and global volatility.
As the UK navigates a transformative era of energy independence and economic security, the mandate is clear: we must move from planning to delivery. However, the complexity of modern infrastructure requires a sophisticated approach to risk, investment, and long-term partnership.
From the next generation of life-science hubs and clinical facilities to digital infrastructure and net-zero urban regeneration, the scale of ambition requires a departure from traditional procurement. We are entering the era of the Strategic Partner where long-term Joint Ventures and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) provide the capital, technical “know-how,” and risk-sharing necessary to get complex schemes off the ground.
In this exclusive roundtable, Insider and HOCHTIEF invite you to explore a new blueprint for delivery. We will move beyond investment theory to implementation reality, examining how global best practices from Europe and the US can be localized to supercharge UK growth.
Talha Yakub will bespeaking on the panel.
Discussion points:
- How to structure JVs that provide certainty in an unpredictable global market
- How Universities and NHS Trusts can leverage their estates to drive regional innovation and inclusive growth
- How local authorities can identify and attract the right delivery partners for long-term social and economic impact
- Ensuring infrastructure serves as a pillar for inclusive growth, energy security, and digital innovation
NW Business Insider Regional Ambition Breakfast
Location: Hilton Leeds City, Neville St, LS1 4BX
Time: 7.45 – 10am
This Insider networking and panel event will hear about some of the biggest and most exciting regeneration opportunities. We will learn how these transformative projects truly move the dial by reshaping local economies, empowering communities, and redefining the built environment for the next decade.
Nick Gerrard will be presenting at the event.
Blackpool Central Roundtable – From Vision to Viability: Structuring Public-Private Partnerships for Lesiure-Led Regeneration
Location: Newmark
Time: 11am – 12pm
Join us for a closed roundtable at UKREiiF to explore how public–private partnership models can enable the delivery of Blackpool Central. The session will focus on practical approaches to risk‑sharing, phasing, governance and long‑term stewardship between the public sector, investors, and master developers.
Nick Gerrard will be speaking on the panel.
Thursday 21st May
Blackpool: Reviving an iconic seaside destination
Location: Muse
Time: 10 – 11.30am
Blackpool’s revival stands as a blueprint for how partnerships and careful planning can deliver transformational change. Join Muse and Blackpool Council as they discuss the factors behind this iconic seaside destination’s £350m renaissance, outline what’s on the horizon, and share how holistic placemaking can spur regeneration beyond the redlines.
Nick Gerrard will be speaking on the panel.
We’ll also be attending various networking sessions throughout the forum. To get in touch and ensure you meet with leading Blackpool figures, contact regeneration@blackpool.gov.uk.
We can’t wait to see you there!
