While many of Labour’s early plans focus on housing and planning, they are likely to have a knock-on effect across the real estate sector. Almost every panel debate I have attended in recent years has included a call for Government and local authorities to take actions that will help speed up the planning process for commercial and residential development. The manifesto pledge to appoint 300 new planning officers will make a difference, but this is unlikely to happen anytime soon.

For many of the faster growing sectors, one of the most positive moves will be to speedily deliver on the pledge to fast-track approval of development on urban brownfield sites and the release of lower quality ‘grey belt’ land. Whilst these sites are often inherently more complex to develop, they are usually well positioned for industrial units for last-mile warehousing, PBSA and BTR schemes, research centres, laboratories and data-centres. With the long-term plan to create a generation of new towns through urban extensions and regeneration, there is going to be increased demand for built environment infrastructure that fits with sustainable, future-proofed living.

It’s clear that we have a substantial role to play in supporting our clients through big and complex challenges. The real estate investment market in the next few years will focus on areas where we have strong capabilities to help clients in a variety of sectors with project management, repositioning or repurposing of assets, advising on ESG and energy strategies and more. We have a strong existing platform that delivers for clients across all sectors. The real estate changes a new Labour government brings allow us to leverage and grow our expertise across our four consultancies, that cover development and project management, lease and occupy, buy and sell and sustainability and innovation.

Five years ago, those investing in the real estate sector were hesitant at the idea of an overly left-wing Labour Party coming into power, but the sentiment from most seems different this time around. Investors from the UK and oversees will be looking on with interest to see how the market reacts initially, as well as what early signs come out of Downing Street regarding economic stability. Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves will know that the worst thing they can do is do something to reduce the trajectory of the economy, which should hopefully mean that the real estate sector is able to grow.