Keynote Stage, LREF 2025
Sophie O’Sullivan | Senior Researcher, Woven Spaces
In the opening address, Kristy Lansdown of The Crown Estate, spoke about responsible development, custodianship, and patient capital. Her call for a long-term approach to nurturing our built world resonated across the forum — from offices in the West End to nature recovery initiatives at The Windsor Estate.
The forum also explored the role of culture in city-making.Jan Kattein Architects shared inspiring examples of designing with purpose and community engagement, while Morwenna Hall (Executive Director and COO, Related Argent) highlighted the success of the Summer Sounds programme in King’s Cross — free to attend, yet vital in bringing visitors and adding value to the area. As urban designer Rumi Bose aptly put it, more developers should aim to “put culture on the spreadsheet.”
Skills and workforce development were another key focus. Damian Wild of ING Media hosted a panel exploring the insights from the NLA’s Skills for Places research, highlighting that one in eight people in the UK work in the built environment — a sector valued at £374 billion and contributing over 17% to the nation’s GDP.
“There is a lot to be done in the built environment around delivery, quality and outcomes, and we can only define what they are together.”
Joanne Rowelle, Director, Arup
“We have seen in the city of London alone, a growth in the worker population, that’s some 25% up since pre-COVID, that’s driving real demand for grade-A, sustainable, office space… it’s really important to bring together occupiers, developers, investors and local authorities, into one place.”
James Thomson, Deputy Chair of Policy and Resources, City of London Corporation
“It takes a village to build a city and we are building the world’s most sustainable, productive, amazing, high energy, inclusive city in the world. This is a global financial centre. We’re building it, but in partnership with everyone from communities within the Square Mile and beyond, international investors, developers, and everyone else inbetween.”
Tom Sleigh, Chair, Planning & Transportation Committee, City of London CorporationCity of London Corporation
Keynote Stage, LREF 2025