The final session of the 11th Build to Rent Forum saw all the previous session moderators take to the stage to neatly sum up the conversations from what was a day packed full of content and insight.
We are already looking forward to the 12th BTR Forum!!!
The moderators moderator was James Pargeter, giving a taste of their own medicine to Simon Scott, Niki Kyriacou, Richard Williams, Colette McCormack and Jo Hollogreen.
After a full day of debate the closing panel distilled the mood in the room. Confidence is returning, but delivery still needs practical fixes and a broader story about who we build for.
➡️ 1. Viability is the blocker.
The audience poll swung hard toward investment and viability as the number one challenge by the end of the day. Planning and regulation matter, but funding and returns dominated.
➡️ 2. Policy stability and a bigger tent of tenures.
There was praise for ambition on housing numbers, paired with a plea for a stable playing field and a conversation that includes the so called missing middle, not only ownership and social rent. In short, build more homes of every tenure and talk about the full spectrum.
➡️ 3. Placemaking is not a luxury.
From Wembley to King’s Cross and Canary Wharf, the message was that great resident propositions and open, mixed places drive advocacy and efficiency. Residents must sit at the heart of decisions.
➡️ 4. Getting it built means being pragmatic about MMC.
Use modern methods where they fit. Think DFMA, standardisation and early contractor engagement. Aim for quality, predictability and operational efficiency rather than a one size fits all approach.
➡️ 5. Data, operations and service culture.
Data informed decisions, amenity that is right sized, and a relentless focus on service came through strongly. There is opportunity in professionalising existing rental stock and in using scale and tech to lift experience while managing cost.
The room felt a little more optimistic than last year about momentum through 2026 into 2027, while staying realistic about lead times and skills.
Trust between public and private partners will be vital to unlock stalled sites and to deliver at scale.
The final words from James summed it up neatly... Build more homes and get on with it!