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UNLOCKING THE PUBLIC ESTATE The practical next steps for councils in 2026 – and the role government and sector bodies can play
Councils are facing a "crowded list of priorities" as they balance severe funding pressures with national mandates for housing and net zero. This summary of the 2026 "Unlocking the Public Estate" report explores practical steps for local authorities to transform their portfolios despite limited capacity and data gaps.
Guy Brett
8 min read
UNLOCKING THE PUBLIC ESTATE Unlocking the Public Estate: what’s really stopping progress—and what councils can change this year
Guy Brett of Watling Consulting compares a 1999 government study with a 2025 pulse survey, finding that despite a decisive shift toward corporate control of assets, the lack of decision-grade data and constrained capacity are severely hindering progress in unlocking the public estate. He provides six effective changes councils can make this year, emphasizing a shift from site-by-site to programmed phasing and service-led pipelines to manage mounting pressures like LGR and dec
Guy Brett
7 min read
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