'The West Midlands will tell a story of momentum,' Mayor says as region set to take centre stage at UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) 2026

Under the banner of ‘Momentum and Delivery: It Starts Here,’ the West Midlands delegation is heading to Leeds for the May 19 to 21 event to showcase a £20 billion-plus pipeline of investment-ready opportunities. 

Organised by the West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC) and led by the Mayor and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), the delegation includes the region’s seven local authorities and a large number of private sector sponsors including three premier business partners for 2026: E.ON, Lendlease and Lovell.

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: "This is a region that is delivering. Arriving at UKREiiF 2026, the West Midlands will tell a story of momentum, having seen a record year for homes delivered utilising Mayoral funds. With work underway on major flagship regeneration projects - including Smithgate in Wolverhampton - we are delivering tangible benefits to our communities.   

“This event provides a brilliant platform to share our plans for further growth, including our new Mayoral Development Corporation and how we will capitalise on new transport infrastructure arriving in 2026, including new stations across Walsall and South Birmingham, and a new metro connection across the Sandwell-Dudley corridor."  

Neil Rami, chief executive of the West Midlands Growth Company, added: “This year, our delegation is joined by leading, influential national voices from across the investment and business sectors, demonstrating the private-sector confidence currently surging through our region.

“As the UK’s leading destination for foreign direct investment outside of London, our scale is matched only by our ambition: we remain one of the country’s most significant regional economies, powered by one of the youngest and most diverse populations in Europe. UKREiiF 2026 provides the perfect stage to demonstrate our momentum, by showcasing our delivery to date, providing unique strategic insight, and presenting over £20 billion of investment opportunities.

Stuart Penn, managing director for the central region at Lovell, said: "Opportunity in the West Midlands has reached new heights over the past year, and we are proud to extend our long-standing partnership with the West Midlands Growth Company by becoming a Premium Partner at UKREiiF 2026.

 “People and partnerships are at the core of everything we do at Lovell. By working collaboratively across the public and private sectors - and crucially with communities - we are helping to bring forward new and improved homes, regenerate neighbourhoods to meet the aspirations of both residents and our partners, and grow the West Midlands economy.  

 “We're looking forward to flying the flag for the West Midlands at this year's UKREiiF and to forging new connections that will help us and our partners create even more opportunity for people and places across our region." 

To find out more visit https://www.investwestmidlands.com/real-estate/wm-at-ukreiif/.