- Published date:
- 16 February 2026
This session was delivered on 6th August 2025 in partnership with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as part of our PropTech Growth Programme Initiative.
Delivering more homes, and delivering them faster, is one of the defining challenges facing the UK. In this online session hosted by the UK PropTech Association, leaders from local government, development, investment and technology came together to explore what it will realistically take to meet ambitious national targets while responding to the very different conditions found across the regions.
The discussion opened with recognition of the scale of the task ahead. The Government’s commitment to 1.5 million new homes over five years represents a step change for many areas, with some local authorities facing targets far higher than in previous plans. Participants agreed that while the need for new housing is widely accepted, longstanding barriers [from viability and infrastructure to skills and process] continue to shape what is achievable on the ground.
The promise and limits of technology
A central theme was the role that PropTech can play in supporting delivery. Examples were shared of digital tools helping to uncover potential sites, accelerate technical assessments and improve the way residents engage with proposals. These advances, speakers noted, can increase the likelihood of planning approval and help councils make more informed decisions.
At the same time, there was a clear sense that technology is not a standalone solution. Its value depends on being integrated into wider systems of collaboration between the public and private sectors. Digital innovation, as one contributor put it, must sit within a culture of delivery rather than alongside it.
Regional perspectives: different places, different realities
Insights from Sheffield and South Cambridgeshire illustrated how local context shapes both challenges and opportunities.
In Sheffield, much of the city’s growth relies on brownfield and smaller urban sites. These locations often require remediation or new infrastructure before development can begin, and they sit within markets where land values are relatively modest. This combination can create viability gaps that are difficult for any single organisation to address. Fragmented land ownership and the complexity of assembling sites add further layers to the process.
South Cambridgeshire faces a contrasting picture. With tens of thousands of homes already permitted, the issue is less about identifying land and more about the pace of delivery. Strategic sites are coming forward slowly, and major infrastructure constraints, particularly around water and wastewater, are influencing what can be built and when. Speakers highlighted the importance of long-term planning for infrastructure and the need to broaden the range of organisations involved in building new homes.
Across both areas, participants acknowledged pressures on planning services and the challenge of attracting new talent into the profession. While planning was not always seen as the primary blocker, the capacity to manage increasingly complex applications remains an important part of the wider system.
Viability, certainty and partnership
From a development and investment perspective, the conversation focused on how large regeneration schemes might be delivered more quickly. Patient capital is available, speakers said, but it requires confidence in long-term masterplans and a shared understanding of risk. Open dialogue between councils, landowners, developers and funders was described as essential to unlocking stalled sites and aligning expectations around land value.
There was broad agreement that early transparency about viability can help prevent difficulties later in the process. When all parties have access to the same information, it becomes easier to design approaches that work for local markets and communities.
Data at the heart of modern planning
Another recurring theme was the importance of accessible, reliable data. Participants noted that different stakeholders often work from slightly different datasets, making it harder to reach shared conclusions. The aspiration is for information to be available in consistent, open formats so that residents, planners and developers can engage on equal terms.
Digital planning tools were highlighted as already reducing manual workload. Some councils reported significant improvements in validation rates and processing times where new systems have been adopted. These efficiencies can free planners to focus more on shaping places rather than administering paperwork.
Looking ahead
The session closed with a sense that progress will depend on many small improvements rather than a single breakthrough. Stronger collaboration, better data, diversified delivery models and thoughtful use of technology all have a part to play. Equally important is recognising that each region faces its own set of constraints and opportunities.
What emerged most clearly was a shared commitment to finding practical routes forward. Delivering more homes is not simply a technical exercise but a collective endeavour involving government, industry and communities. Conversations like this, grounded in real experiences from different parts of the country, are an important step toward that goal.
You can watch the full recording of this session above.
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