The conference will run from approximately 10:00 to 16:00 and will feature sessions exploring, among other topics:
- What we need to change, in a changing world
The world around us is shifting faster than the systems we rely on to serve our communities. Data, digital technology, and artificial intelligence are reshaping every sector — from banking to retail, from health to transport. And whether we feel ready or not, these forces are reshaping local government too.
People no longer compare their council to the authority next door. They compare us to the best digital experiences they have anywhere. They expect services that are simple, seamless, personalised, and available on their terms. They expect us to use data intelligently, to anticipate need, to prevent harm, and to act as one system across a place.
But the truth is this: we are being asked to deliver the future while still paying for the past. - The Estate We’re In: A New Vision for Local Assets and Community Value
Local authorities sit at the heart of their communities, and the assets they steward represent far more than balance sheet entries – they are the physical expression of place, identity, and ambition.
This keynote explores how local and central government can work together to think boldly about placemaking, moving beyond transactional asset management towards a strategic vision that maximises social, economic, and environmental value for communities.
Drawing on emerging best practice and the Government’s own missions, it sets out a compelling case for a new relationship between place, people, and the public estate. - Estate reimagined – A journey through place
This session takes councils on a practical journey exploring estate and place — from unlocking land and building capacity, to planning, delivery, and long‑term stewardship. It explores how ambition can be turned into delivery to create safe, sustainable places where communities can thrive. Attendees will gain a clear overview of some of the support available, how it fits together, and how it can be applied locally. - Beyond the Empty Nest: Precision Rationalisation and Data-Driven Estate Strategy
In a post-COVID landscape, the traditional local authority estate often resembles an “empty nest”—a collection of legacy assets that are expensive to maintain, under-occupied, and misaligned with modern service delivery. For the Strategic Asset Manager, the challenge is no longer just identifying surplus space, but proving the “value in use” through cold, hard data.
This session will explore how to move beyond anecdotal decision-making by implementing an integrated asset management system. Drawing on extensive experience, the presentation will demonstrate how aggregating disparate data sets (from utility consumption and business rates to FTE density and resident footfall) creates a single source of truth.
Attendees will learn how to build a performance dashboard that identifies “ghost costs” and quantifies the true cost of under-utilisation, which they can use to confidently lead the difficult conversations required to downsize, relocate, or reinvest. - From Cupboards to Data Centres: Unlocking Value by Retiring Server Rooms
Server rooms are often overlooked, yet they quietly drive-up costs, carbon emissions, and limit flexibility across the public sector estate. This session explores how moving servers into purpose-built data centres can cut emissions by up to 99%, reduce running costs by 66%, and unlock valuable space for other uses. We’ll share practical examples and outline how the Cabinet Office partnership, Crown Hosting, makes the transition straightforward—helping estates teams deliver real savings and progress towards net zero.
- Driving value and certainty: the role of property auctions in today’s public sector
Local authorities are under unprecedented pressure to deliver faster decisions, clearer processes and stronger financial outcomes. With ongoing restructuring creating larger combined authorities and new regulations tightening the rules around property standards and long‑term liabilities, many councils are reassessing how they dispose of assets and release capital.
This session shows why property auctions are becoming the preferred route for Local Authorities needing certainty, speed and real market competition. We’ll explore how auction platforms deliver best consideration, minimise fall‑through risk, cut administrative burden and provide full transparency, all the while helping local authorities respond to emerging challenges such as EPC changes and the rising cost of holding non‑compliant stock.
By the end of this session, attendees will gain a clear understanding of how auctions can help local authorities respond effectively to shifting regulatory, financial and organisational pressures. - From ‘Jewel in the Crown’ to Economic Engine: What Haigh Hall Teaches Us About Culture-Led Estate Strategy
This session will focus on the repositioning of Haigh Hall as a historic civic asset into a nationally significant cultural destination through adaptive reuse. The discussion will explore capital funding strategies to enable the reimaging of historic assets for modern use; the careful balance between conservation constraints and commercial viability of a Grade II* listed building; embedding galleries, education hospitality and events into one estate strategy; and translating civic pride into measurable economic and social value. - A Platform4 Partnership – building partnerships for rail regeneration
Britain faces a pressing need for more homes, and no single organisation can tackle the housing crisis alone. The urgency to unlock land and deliver nationwide growth has never been greater.Platform4, Network Rail’s development company and a commercially driven property business, was established to bridge the gap between ambition and delivery on railway and transport-linked land. With over 10,000 homes delivered recently and a pipeline aiming for 40,000 more in the next decade – alongside 10 million sq ft of commercial development -Platform4 unites public sector accountability with private sector expertise.
This panel will discuss how to build cross-sector partnerships that create real change — not just planning consents, but places where people want to live and work. Panellists will share live examples such as the Manchester Mayfield regeneration — a £1.4bn, 24-acre scheme delivering 1,700 homes and £7.4bn in projected social and economic value — as well as projects in Nottingham and Derby, to show how complex sites can be unlocked through partnership, planning expertise and commercial confidence. - Neighbourhood Hubs that deliver: Partnership models driving local impact – case study from Salford City Council & Community Health Partnerships
This session will explore how the existing NHS LIFT estate can be maximised to support the delivery of a Neighbourhood Health Service, as set out in the 10 Year Health Plan. It will highlight how flexible, community based facilities are enabling integrated, accessible and prevention focused care closer to home.
We will also showcase a case study demonstrating a dual tenancy model between Community Health Partnerships and Salford City Council, illustrating how shared use of estate can strengthen neighbourhood level collaboration and unlock wider community benefits. We will reflect on the successes, practical lessons learned, and the operational and strategic challenges encountered along the way.
Delegates will gain insight into the opportunities for making better use of existing public estate, improving utilisation, and enabling more coordinated services that meet population health needs. - ACES Presents: FACES of the Future Public Estate
An inspiring conversation with early‑career property professionals who are forging their paths within the public sector. From training experiences to qualification milestones, they’ll discuss what drew them to public service, what they’ve learned along the way, and how they see their role in shaping a modern, resilient public estate.
Agenda is subject to change and will be updated regularly
plenary speakers
Peter Beer
Conference Chair
Head of Property & Strategic Assets, West Midlands Combined Authority
Peter was appointed Head of Property & Strategic Assets at West Midlands Combined Authority in June 2024. He is a chartered surveyor with 20 years’ experience managing local authority property portfolios for district and unitary authorities, before stepping into his current Combined Authority role.
With experience in property transformation, asset rationalisation and asset strategy planning, he is now working with partners both at the regional level, and with Cabinet Office and LGA to promote good asset management planning and partnership working in the West Midlands to unlock opportunities for property and place in the context of devolution. Peter is also an assessor for the RICS Associate route and is passionate in ensuring opportunities for development into the profession.
Saurabh Bhandari
Director, Property Delivery and Transformation, OGP (Cabinet Office)
Saurabh Bhandari was appointed Director, Property Delivery and Transformation, within the Office of Government Property (Cabinet Office), in May 2024.
Saurabh leads strategic initiatives to modernise and optimise the Government Property Portfolio, with a particular focus on transforming property investments and assets into catalysts for innovation & growth, that create public value.
Saurabh leads the drive to improve the condition of the government estate. He is responsible for the ongoing improvement of facilities management in government buildings, including modernising infrastructure to enhance safety, energy efficiency and operational effectiveness across the public sector. As a precursor to transforming assets and investments, he will also provide leadership in using data and analytics to enable decisions across the government estate.
Having trained as a Chartered Architect and a Programme manager he brings multi-sector experience across real estate, social and economic infrastructure. Saurabh has extensive experience at senior positions on high-profile, national and international property programmes in a career spanning across multiple market sectors and both public and private investment led development programmes.
He is a Fellow of the Association of Project Management and a graduate of the Major Project Leadership Academy at Oxford University.
A keen reader and amateur runner, Saurabh lives in Manchester with his wife and two children.
Allan Bosley
Director of Public Affairs, Crown Hosting DC
Following a career in marketing and communications with organisations including the MoD and BBC, and serving as Town Councillor, which he chaired for four years, Allan joined Ark Data Centres in 2009. He is now Director of Public Affairs, working closely for and with Crown Hosting, Ark’s partnership with the Cabinet Office, since its inception in 2015.
Thuso Selelo
Director - Assets & Capital Delivery, London Borough of Sutton
Thuso Selelo, a Chartered Surveyor, is Director for Assets and Capital Delivery at the London Borough of Sutton, where he provides strategic leadership and technical expertise in asset management. With extensive public and private sector experience, he is passionate about estates rationalisation, reshaping operational footprints to drive efficiencies and creating modern, flexible corporate spaces for residents and staff.
Lindsay Whitley
Regional Programme Manager for North West & West Midlands, One Public Estate, Local Government Association
Using her skills in placemaking, strategy and communication, Lindsay works across the NW & WM region to deliver the innovative One Public Estate Programme – a partnership between the Local Government Association, OGP (Cabinet Office), and MHCLG. In this role she promotes collaboration between public sector partners to repurpose surplus public estate to kickstart regeneration, transform public service delivery, and unlock sites for new homes.
As a chartered town planner, urban designer and programme manager, her career has spanned both public and private sectors. She has a demonstrable track record of leading and delivering a successful portfolio of projects, including property, masterplanning, development, and design.
Session speakers & panel members
Heather Coombs
Strategic Manager - Buildings & FM
Wigan Council
As Strategic Lead for Assets and Property at Wigan Council, Heather is responsible for the long-term vision and operational management of the council’s portfolio. She is currently the lead officer for the landmark restoration of Haigh Hall. Heather’s role on this project focuses on bridging the gap between historic preservation and modern commercial viability to ensure public assets deliver lasting value for their communities.
Karl Drabble
Regional Director, Platform4
Karl Drabble is a Chartered Surveyor and Regional Director at Platform4, specialising in mixed-use regeneration and development across complex brownfield sites. He began his career at a housing association before moving into the private sector with Legal & General, focusing on residential development and investment. With over a decade of experience, Karl has led and delivered residential and mixed-use schemes from acquisition through planning, funding and delivery, working with investors, developers and partners across the UK.
Tony Fitzgerald
Senior Strategic Asset Manager, Salford City Council
Tony is a Senior Manager at Salford City Council, responsible for strategic asset management. He also chairs the Salford Strategic Estates Group which represents the broader public estate and the VCFSE estate across the city.
Tony has worked for a number of local authorities in the field of town centre regeneration and was the senior responsible officer for award winning projects in Greater Manchester, Derbyshire, Cheshire and Lancashire. Tony has recently returned to Local Government after spending ten years in the NHS in Greater Manchester, with a particular focus on Salford.
Robert Horne
Head of Local Government Engagement, Crown Hosting Data Centres
Rob leads engagement across a number of public sector verticals including, local government, healthcare, education, blue light, and research delivering secure and sustainable data centre services to the UK public sector. He works closely with estates and digital teams to help them make the most of Crown Hosting Framework (RM6262) – reducing costs, cutting carbon emissions, and improving resiliency by migrating IT infrastructure out of existing buildings into state of the art, resilient colocation data centres.
Rick Lawrence
Partnerships Director, Platform4
Rick Lawrence is a Chartered Surveyor with over 37 years’ experience in the property industry. At Platform4 – Network Rail’s new property development company – Rick is Partnerships Director, where he leads on establishing partnerships with strategic authorities, local authorities and public bodies to deliver new placemaking and mixed-use regeneration opportunities around transport hubs across the country.
Rick previously acted as Partnerships Director for Places for People, leading long-term placemaking and regeneration projects for Runnymede Borough Council, including a £90 million mixed-use scheme in Egham town centre. Prior to this, he spent 19 years with Landsec / TT Group, where he was responsible for overseeing joint venture partnerships with public sector organisations including the Department for Work and Pensions, the DVLA and Central Bedfordshire Council.
Adrian Little
Director, BTG Eddisons
Over the last 40 years Adrian has been involved in the sale at auction of over 10,000 properties in the Yorkshire and Humber region, ranging from small sites and ground rents to large industrial estates and residential investments. He has sold many landmark buildings throughout the region and is particularly interested in properties that require modernisation, restoration or redevelopment.
Having spent many hours on the rostrum at Sheffield’s Bramall Lane, he saw the successful transition to online auctions seeing some £100m of residential, commercial, agricultural and industrial lots being sold for private, corporate and local authority clients. In March 2023, he joined Eddisons and Pugh & Co to forward this success and continue to offer personal service with a larger national presence.
Nathan Ovien
Valuation Surveyor Degree Apprentice, Valuation Office Agency
Tayo Olanite
Estates Surveyor, Hyndburn Borough Council
John Piercy Holroyd
Associate Partner, Purcell Architecture
John Piercy Holroyd is an Associate Partner at Purcell and Studio Lead in Manchester, with over 20 years of professional experience delivering civic, cultural, and community-focused architecture across the UK. His work spans both new-build and adaptive reuse projects, with particular expertise in regeneration programmes and the transformation of historic buildings for contemporary use.
Working closely with public and institutional clients, John often takes a strategic role in shaping complex projects from early vision through to delivery. This includes coordinating multidisciplinary teams, developing long-term masterplans, and ensuring that design teams are supported to explore ambitious and thoughtful architectural responses.
Current work includes the transformation of Haigh Hall in Wigan into a major cultural destination as part of a wider regeneration programme for Wigan Council. In this role, John works closely with the client to help shape the long-term vision and delivery strategy for the estate, coordinating a programme of projects that includes the restoration of the Grade II* listed hall alongside a series of new cultural, landscape, and visitor-focused interventions across Haigh Woodland Park.
Melissa Rhodes
Estates Surveyor, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
Derek Samuel
Strategic Estates Productivity Lead, Community Health Partnerships
Derek is a Strategic Estates Productivity Lead for Community Health Partnerships (CHP), a Department of Health and Social Care company established to manage health buildings constructed under the NHS Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) programme.
Managing strategic relationships with Integrated Care Boards, NHS Provider Trusts, Local Authorities and a range of primary care and community providers, his role focusses on improving space utilisation in LIFT buildings, and supporting partners with the implementation of their estates and infrastructure strategies.
Azim Walimia
Development Manager, West Midlands Combined Authority
Neil Webster
Head of Engagement, ACES
event timetable
09:00 Registration & Networking – refreshments and pastries provided
10:00 Plenary
11:15 Refreshments and networking
11:45 From Cupboards to Data Centres: Unlocking Value by Retiring Server Rooms
12:15 Driving value and certainty: the role of property auctions in today’s public sector
12:45 Lunch and networking
13:35 From ‘Jewel in the Crown’ to Economic Engine: What Haigh Hall teaches us about culture-led Estate Strategy
14:05 A Platform4 Partnership – building partnerships for rail regeneration
14:35 Refreshments and networking
15:00 Neighbourhood Hubs that deliver: Partnership models driving local impact
15:30 ACES Presents: FACES of the Future Public Estate
16:00 Chair’s closing remarks
16:05 Drinks reception – sponsored by BTG Eddisons
17:05 Conference Close
Please note agenda will be updated regularly, speakers, subject matter and timings may be subject to change
EXHIBITORS, SPEAKERS & SPONSORS FROM
VENUE & TRAVEL
This event takes place at TheStudio, Manchester
What3Words: Rats, Pouch, Grabs
Venue phone number: 0161 237 1201
Venue website: Click to visit
Walking from Piccadilly Station – 10 minutes
On leaving Piccadilly Station via ‘Piccadilly’ exit, walk down the ramp towards the City centre and Piccadilly Gardens. Follow the path until you see Tesco Express on your left hand side. Cross over Newton Street and take the next turning on the right into Lever Street, continue along crossing Back Piccadilly, Dale Street, Stevenson Square and Faraday Street, TheStudio is located on your left at 51 The Hive.
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