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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.

An anonymous "insider" explores the government’s dual plan for devolution and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in England, which aims to create new Mayoral Authorities and Unitary Councils. The article focuses on the critical, practical impact these changes have on property professionals, detailing key challenges like property asset transfer, system updates, and preparing for the Structural Change Order.

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