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Confidence rebounds across UK real estate. That’s the message from a landmark sentiment survey by the UK’s Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF), the largest real estate event in the UK property calendar and part of the Infopro Digital group, in partnership with research consultancy Holistic Insight.
The survey, based on 10,874 responses gathered from professionals who will attend UKREiiF 2025 on 20-22 May in Leeds, captured sentiment from developers, contractors, investors, funders, consultants, architects, occupiers and the public sector, with the results pointing to a decisive shift in mood. Positive sentiment has risen from 52 per cent to 70 per cent, an 18-point increase. Negative sentiment has dropped from 17 per cent to just six per cent, while neutral views have declined from 31 per cent to 24 per cent – indicating a more confident and decisive industry outlook.
This is the first time UKREiiF has conducted a sentiment survey of this scale. Every UK region recorded a significant increase in positive sentiment, with particularly strong gains in Scotland (47 per cent to 67 per cent), the South West (55 per cent to 74 per cent), the South East (52 per cent to 70 per cent) and Wales (53 per cent to 71 per cent). London (52 per cent to 69 per cent) saw a marked uplift of 17 percentage points, matched also by Yorkshire, the Midlands and the North West.
Declines in negative sentiment were also recorded across the board. The South East, North West and London showed some of the sharpest reductions, each down 10–12 percentage points in negative outlook.
Not only has optimism increased geographically, but it has also improved across the project lifecycle. Investors, developers, end users/occupiers, councils and Government, the industry leaders who are at the forefront of development, regeneration and infrastructure projects, saw a significant positive sentiment shift. Positivity rose by between 14 and 18 percentage points, with developers showing the greatest shift.
This was reflected by the supply chain. Positivity among consultants rose by 18 points, contractors by 14 points, and architectural and design teams by 18. The most confident groups overall were recruitment firms (82 percent positive), data analytics providers (80 per cent), and housebuilders (78 per cent), followed closely by accountancy firms (76 per cent) and end user occupiers (75 per cent).
Despite this shift, some challenges persist in parts of the industry. The public sector, for example, reported the highest level of negative sentiment at eight per cent, while developers followed at seven per cent – suggesting that pressures on finance and economic viability, planning, policy and delivery are not yet resolved. Indeed, planning issues were in the top three for over half of the developers who responded, while costs were a close second for the public sector (almost half of respondents) after geopolitical uncertainty.
While the national picture shows growing confidence, the 2025 UKREiiF sentiment survey also highlights persistent – and at times diverging – concerns across the industry.
The five most frequently cited challenges were geopolitical instability (48 per cent), inflation and increasing costs (41 per cent), the UK planning system (35 per cent), the UK political landscape (33 per cent), and cost and availability of finance (30 per cent). However, the distribution of concerns varies by sector.
- Developers most often cited the planning system (53 per cent), geopolitical instability (46 per cent) and inflation (39 per cent).
- Investors and funders highlighted geopolitical instability (68 per cent), interest rates (44 per cent), and inflation (41 per cent).
- Contractors pointed to the UK political landscape (43 per cent), inflation (40% per cent, and geopolitical instability (35 per cent).
- Consultants cited geopolitical instability (49 per cent), inflation (41 per cent), and planning (36 per cent).
- Public sector respondents flagged geopolitical instability (51 per cent), inflation (46 per cent), and cost and availability of finance (38 per cent).
- PropTech firms raised concerns around geopolitical instability (42 per cent), inflation (32 per cent), and technology and digitalisation (30 per cent).
- Recruitment specialists most frequently cited talent attraction and retention (46 per cent), the UK political landscape (46 per cent), and inflation (39 per cent).
The picture is nuanced. While some challenges are widely shared, particularly around cost, confidence and policy, each part of the industry faces its own pressures. Unlocking progress, the data suggests, will require more targeted solutions.
The 2025 UKREiiF sentiment survey paints a picture of an industry no longer blocked by uncertainty. Confidence is rising, along with a growing understanding of where support and reform may be needed — including better planning outcomes, more stable policy, improved access to finance, and deeper cross-sector collaboration.
Nathan Spencer, Managing Director of UKREiiF, said: “UKREiiF is in its fourth year and brings together professionals from across the real estate and infrastructure sectors. In 2025, it is expecting approximately 16,000 attendees, which gave us the perfect opportunity to undertake a sector-wide sentiment survey. The findings send a clear message. After a period of prolonged uncertainty, confidence has returned to the UK real estate market. Nearly 70 per cent of professionals we surveyed are optimistic about the year ahead, and that positivity runs right across the country and every part of the industry. We hope this research helps drive meaningful conversations at the UKREiiF event in Leeds this year.”
Nicola Hanser, Director of Holistic Insight, added: “What’s particularly powerful about this survey is that it captures sentiment from across the full breadth of the sector. It shows not only where confidence is growing, but what’s driving it – and where challenges remain. Through the survey, we now have clear insight into the areas that need attention such as planning reform, policy clarity, access to finance, ESG delivery and long-term talent development. It’s a great resource for the property industry as it navigates an uncertain market and plans ahead.”
To download the report click here.
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