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ACES members gathered at the historic Guildhall in Bath for the 2025 National Conference, exploring how local authorities can unlock the full potential of public land while navigating the challenges of biodiversity net gain and local government reform. Expert speakers and panel discussions highlighted innovation, collaboration, and the crucial role of property professionals in shaping a more sustainable, resilient public estate.

Adam Birchall, who led property matters during Cornwall's move to a Unitary system in 2009, shares the subsequent 16 years of integration and lessons learned, framed through 10 property assets. His key takeaways for councils undergoing LGR are that the transition day is "barely the first quarter mile" and the critical importance of "Learning to devolve and let go" —transferring assets like parks and libraries to capable local bodies, viewing property not as a spreadsheet entr

Brian Thompson and Peter Beer detail the experience of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) as one of five locations awarded funding for the innovative Place Pilot Programme in 2022. Designed as a test bed for scalable collaborative asset management beyond routine One Public Estate (OPE) projects, the programme successfully fostered regional collaboration, updated key documents like the Public Land Charter, and unlocked novel projects, proving the power of a regional,

Richard Gawthorpe of the Norse Group argues that facing a new reality of financial pressure and reorganisation, local authorities must shift their mindset from viewing public estates as liabilities to seeing them as engines of fiscal resilience and growth. He advocates for bold leadership, strategic repurposing (like converting offices to housing), and using innovative financing tools like joint ventures to generate revenue while retaining strategic control.

With the Community Ownership Fund closed, Mark Walton of Shared Assets argues that local authorities are now crucial in supporting community asset ownership, acting as landowners, facilitators, and regulators to empower communities and revitalize neighborhoods