Hugh James Launches Five-Day Housing Week in Wales to Tackle Sector Growth Challenges
Leading law firm Hugh James is convening housing leaders, legal experts, and industry specialists for its annual Housing Week, scheduled to take place from 9 to 13 November 2026. The five-day programme, themed ‘Building for Growth’, will examine the strategic requirements for sustainable expansion. Organisations face increasing pressure on supply, communities, workforces, and leadership teams across Wales.
The event combines exclusive in-person gatherings with online discussions to provide practical insight. It explores the people, projects, and strategic decisions shaping housing delivery over the next decade. Legal and operational factors that could support or challenge these ambitions will be central to the debate.
Representatives from the Welsh Government, housing associations, SME housebuilders, and PLC developers will attend. A blend of architectural, planning, and valuation consultants will also join local authority decision-makers. The aim is to foster connections and valuable discussions on solving Wales’ housing crisis.
Monday 9 November opens with an online session titled ‘Growing your workforce sustainably’. Louise Price, Head of Employment & HR Services, will lead the discussion. Caroline Belasco of Beacon Cymru will also participate in this initial segment.
Tuesday 10 November features an in-person event in collaboration with Savills, focusing on ‘Growing supply with confidence’. The latest Welsh Housing Market Outlook Report will be launched with a live panel discussion. Caroline O’Flaherty, Partner and Head of Social Housing, will host the session.
An online fireside chat will follow, exploring Plaid Cymru’s planning proposals. Alex Madden, Partner and Head of Planning, will lead this discussion. The day’s agenda balances market analysis with political strategy for housing development.
Wednesday 11 November is dedicated to ‘Growing community and cohesion’ in an in-person format. Sessions will cover mental capacity and support for tenants with disabilities. Safeguarding, homelessness, and the implications of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 for housing providers will also be addressed.
Thursday 12 November focuses on ‘Growing safely’ through online sessions. Matthew Stevens, Head of Construction, Infrastructure and Projects, will deliver a construction law update. A fireside chat will follow on how housing associations can safely deliver more homes.
Friday 13 November concludes with ‘Leading growth with confidence’ in an online format. Harriet Morgan, Partner in Commercial Property, will join Auriol Miller, Chief Executive at Cynon Taf. Jason Wroe, Interim Chief Executive at First Choice Housing Association, will also participate.
Liz Fletcher, Head of Procurement at Hugh James, will provide insight on the Commercial Payments Bill. She will discuss what it could mean for housing providers and their supply chains. This session addresses the financial and contractual aspects of sector growth.
Organisations are being asked to deliver more, at pace, at a time when the environment in which they operate is becoming increasingly complex.
She added: “But growth is not simply about building more homes.” It means having the right workforce and leadership in place, creating strong and sustainable communities, managing risk effectively and making confident long-term decisions about development and investment.
O’Flaherty continued: “With more than 40 years’ experience advising the housing sector – from planning to construction and beyond – we understand both the scale of its ambition and the practical challenges involved in delivering it.”
She stated: “Housing Week is an opportunity to bring together expertise and perspectives from across the sector and have practical conversations about what sustainable growth really looks like.”
Further information on the programme, access to online events, and expressions of interest for in-person sessions are available at www.hughjames.com/hj-housing-week/. The event runs from 9 to 13 November 2026.
