RICS at the 2025 UK Party Political Conferences

Each year, the UK’s party-political conferences give RICS a valuable platform to champion our profession and the impact of the built and natural environment. These gatherings bring together policymakers, industry leaders and practitioners, and RICS engagement ensures that the insight, and expertise of surveyors are part of the national conversation.

Throughout the party conference season, RICS members have played an active part in shaping discussions, sharing professional expertise and showcasing the breadth of skills our profession brings to housing, infrastructure, and sustainability challenges.

Why Political Engagement Matters

Engaging with all major political parties allows RICS to advocate on behalf of members across the UK and influence the decisions that shape our work - from housing policy and infrastructure investment to sustainability and skills. By contributing our evidence and expertise, we help create the conditions for a thriving built and natural environment and ensure our members’ professional voice is heard where it matters most.

Julian Francis, RICS Director of External Affairs commented:

“Our engagement at the party conferences, and with UK and devolved governments, shows the strength of RICS’ influence and advocacy. We bring evidence, professionalism and a solutions-driven voice that helps ensure decisions about our built and natural environment are informed, ambitious and deliver real outcomes for society.”

“Through this work, RICS continues to make sure the expertise and insight, of our members are recognised at the highest levels of decision-making, reinforcing the value and impact of our profession every day.”

Liberal Democrat Conference

At the Liberal Democrat Conference, RICS partnered with RIBA to host the Built and Natural Environment Reception, bringing together MPs, architects and surveyors to discuss sustainability, design and the future skills needed to deliver on the UK’s housing and climate ambitions.

RICS members also took part in conversations with parliamentarians on a wide range of issues, including housing quality, mutual recognition of qualifications and ways to tackle the skills shortage. It was a clear reminder that our profession is central to developing the next generation of talent across the built environment.

Labour Conference

In Liverpool, housing and placemaking dominated the Labour Party Conference - especially following the publication of the New Towns Taskforce report, which identified 12 potential new locations.

RICS joined discussions on how these new towns can become vibrant communities, focusing on design, infrastructure and placemaking. We joined the Labour Housing Group to debate how to make new towns a success, with Chris Curtis MP and Julia Buckley MP, as well as Charlotte Neal MRICS, RICS Director of Professional Practice & Research, and Mel Barrett MRIC, CEO of Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing discussing the importance of placemaking, investment viability and joined up support across government departments.

Attention then turned to the homes we already have. We joined Peabody and parliamentarians to discuss how we can raise standards in social housing, highlighting our ongoing development of the Social Housing Stock Condition Survey.

With 80% of the UK’s housing stock likely to remain in use in 2050, the retrofit challenge is enormous. RICS brought together surveyors, MPs and industry leaders at our RICS Retrofit Revolution Reception to highlight the surveyor’s role in improving existing homes and boosting energy efficiency. Bill Esterson MP, Chair of the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee delivered the keynote, talking about the value of professional advice in delivering high-quality retrofitting.

Skills featured prominently too. In a roundtable with colleagues and across the built environment and Antonia Bance MP, member of the Business and Trade Committee, RICS emphasised the need for coordinated action to equip our workforce to meet the UK’s ambitious building and net zero targets.

Conservative Conference

In Manchester, the Conservative Party Conference provided a platform to focus on quality and investment in housing. RICS joined Peabody for a panel on raising the standard of social housing and investing in existing homes - with CEO Justin Young joining Peabody’s Elly Hoult and Emma Best AM, chaired by Kate Henderson of the National Housing Federation.

Later, RICS took part in a Next Gen Tories reception centred on housing, with strong contributions from Shadow Housing Minister Paul Holmes MP and Jack Rankin MP, and RICS members.

Across discussions, housing, infrastructure and the future of our high streets remained at the top of the agenda - with a shared understanding of the important role surveyors play in delivering sustainable growth and community resilience.