Our Director, Steve Watts, recently had the privilege of chairing the 2025 Tall Buildings Conference & Awards in London – a focused and insightful event that brought together over 160 delegates to explore the future of high-rise development.
Steve delivered both the opening and closing remarks at the conference and also served as a judge for the Tall Building Awards. His opening address on London’s tower design trends and commercial challenges set the tone for the day, framed by shifting macroeconomic and geopolitical contexts.
Two standout sessions included:
- The Building Safety Act Panel
Tim Galloway from the Health and Safety Executive gave a candid overview of the challenges to date – from under-resourced regulators and an unsuitable digital platform to a wave of poor-quality applications. The result? A staggering 70% rejection rate.
Following Tim’s overview, a panel debate featuring representatives from the NFCC, FPA, and SOCOTEC shared practical solutions: clearer guidance, better expectations, and stronger industry collaboration. - Spotlight Projects
This session showcased projects from across the UK, with many designers focusing on the theme of stretched viability and designing within tight budgets – a particularly timely topic. It was inspiring to see how large-scale commercial schemes continue to deliver high-quality buildings and public realm, reinforcing that landmark tall buildings aren’t just a London story.
Key takeaways for our developer clients:
- Viability first – Maximise area and cost efficiency so investment goes where it adds most value.
- Make the brief count – Include clear commercial metrics such as net:gross efficiency, wall:floor ratio, and façade rates to guide design to budget.
- Carbon matters – As with cost, our data and insight are key to shaping a sustainable brief.
- Success = clarity + collaboration – A strong brief and collaborative behaviours are often the difference between success and failure. We play a vital role in helping clients plan properly and coherently.
The event provided a valuable platform to share insights, build connections, and reinforce our role in helping clients deliver tall buildings that work – commercially, technically, and socially.
Looking ahead
We’re already looking forward to next year’s event. You can find out more about the Tall Buildings Conference & Awards 2026 here.
Need support with your next tall building project?
We have extensive experience in cost management for high-rise developments. If you’d like to discuss how we can support your project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Steve Watts, steve.watts@ttalinea.com
Photography credit: Tall Buildings Conference & Awards/RADAR
