Insights from MIPIM 2025 on UK real estate

The global real estate conference, MIPIM 2025, took place from 11 – 14 March and a team of us were there in Cannes to gain some invaluable insights from some of the biggest names in real estate. The weather was undeniably a disappointment (think wellies and umbrellas in place of sunglasses and sunscreen). Indeed, the unpredictable weather mirrored the challenges in the real estate industry but also highlighted resilience and adaptability.

Central themes for the UK were:

• Sustainability and ESG – discussions highlighted the integration of ESG considerations into investment strategies and the growing importance of infrastructure like data centres and energy projects. It is no surprise that ESG considerations were highlighted as essential for long-term value creation – ESG is no longer just a “nice to have”;
• Planning and Infrastructure Reforms – with impeccable timing, the Government introduced the Planning and Infrastructure Bill on the first day of MIPIM. The Bill looks to streamline housing and infrastructure development and to address challenges like labour shortages and regulatory hurdles;
• Tech advancements – AI’s impact on real estate and construction was a key topic, with considerable optimism about innovation driving growth and productivity;
• Navigating economic volatility – there is no doubt that fluctuating interest rates and inflation remains a key concern for the industry but there was a lot of discussion on strategies for mitigating risk, such as securing long-term financing, focusing on resilient asset classes and transforming underperforming assets, such as vacant offices, into residential or mixed use spaces; and
• Housing above all else – The living sector appears top of the list of priorities for investors. Sadiq Khan spoke at the conference about the desperate need for houses in London and encouraging public and private sector collaboration.

The event showcased a cautiously optimistic outlook for UK real estate and reaffirmed our position as an attractive and competitive destination for global investment. We look forward to seeing what the rest of 2025 has to bring!