As a society, a third will be retired in the next decade. The UK’s aging society has a disproportionate access to wealth, often tied up in housing, and will be consciously thinking about their next steps, either to downsize or as a lifestyle choice. This opening session will look to dispel the myths of the later living sector for those wanting a greater understanding of its potential, and look at the opportunities for the sector moving forward:

• Discuss the scale of demand and how to get access into the sector

• Explore what steps are being taken to encourage growth and sector potential

• Outline the challenges sector faces in securing investment and outline the opportunities to invest

• Clarify management fees/ deferred fees and tenure models

Our panel brings together key stakeholders from across the sector in response to the taskforce, and considers:

• The most pressing concerns that are preventing the market from meeting growing demand

• Different approaches to tackle affordability, event fees and affordable housing policy

The future is looking strong for the UK’s retirement living sector. With a growing aging population expected to reach 14 million by 2037; an increase of 15%, demand will far outstrip supply. Our keynote speaker will reflect on the past 12 months for the market and consider the outlook for the next year, the impact of Truss’ mini budget on investor and consumer appetite, and if the later living sector could buck RESI market trends.

This session will consider:

• Macro-economic outlook for the housing sector overall

• Market expectations for the later living sector

• Global comparisons to benchmark progress

• Entrant and investor appetite to capitalise on growing demand

• The impact of inflation across the supply chain

Luxury later living developments have dominated the market, however to broaden the consumer base, schemes must be able to attract more diverse residents from different demographics. How does the typology of the sector need to change to be future fit, as well as cater and appeal to a broader group of consumers? Hear from our expert panel as they discuss their considerations for lifestyle and housing options for the next phase of their life and how the offering should evolve to meet the lifestyle expectations of the next generation of residents.

There is no magic formula for getting the tenure model right, yet. As consumers consider the best option for their next move, two key issues remain foremost in their mind – their own liquidity and their cashflow. How should the tenure model evolve for the sector? Whilst some developers are moving to a stronger rental offering, others are sticking firmly to the house sales model.

In this session, our panel of experts will:

• Consider the different returns over the long term for developers – from shared ownership, rental to deferred fees

• Assess how tenure mix can work effectively within a scheme over time

• Explore the Leasehold Plus model and what it would mean for consumers and investors

With the consultation period for the revised NPPF recently concluded, the sector is eagerly awaiting the government response.

This session will:

• Explore what the revisions mean for the planning system and the later living sector

• Analyse the new opportunities and challenge of the new framework

The planning process continues to be one of the biggest issues for developers, operators and investors alike. With no place for a talking shop on our agenda, this session will explore user cases of planning authorities working in partnership with developers to progress plans through this process. As well as tackling the key considerations of the application process, this session will explore:

• The impact of the Building Safety Act on development plans and costs

• What Late Stage Reviews could mean for proposal, pipelines and projected spend

Land prices are not getting cheaper and construction, resource and energy costs continue to increase with inflation. Opportunities to charge more for the same will not weather the storm caused by the cost-of-living crisis, as consumers continue to keep a tight hold on purse strings. How can developers continue to make strong profit margin when the bottom line is diminishing?

In this session our panel will:

• Consider if it is possible to build cheaper through standardisation

• Explore longer term approaches to operational charging models

Case studies demonstrating how schemes are delivering real impact through their ESG commitment as well as contributing to overall operational efficiencies and profit: The Rightsizer Concept

This session will explore the sales process, how long are sales taking, how are pipelines being affected by the slowdown of the residential market and do customers understand the process?