SOLD OUT: Tall Buildings Conference 2026

Half-day conference

Monday 27 April 2026
09:00 - 13:00

NLA's Tall Buildings Conference and Survey presents the latest updates on London's tall buildings pipeline for 2026.

High-rise development has become synonymous with London’s status as a leading global city, reflecting innovation, engineering excellence and contributing to a distinctive skyline. NLA’s annual survey and conference presents the latest insights into tall building development across the capital, addressing the key drivers that are impacting viability across planning and delivery.

The conference provides a unique opportunity to discuss the future of London’s skyline and how the industry is navigating changing regulations for high-rise development. Despite these shifts, many schemes continue to prioritise sustainability, pioneering innovations in low-carbon engineering and design. Tall buildings also remain attractive to both international and domestic investors, while offering a viable way to deliver much-needed housing.

The programme will further explore how tall buildings can positively contribute to public realm and placemaking, while raising important questions about their wider social and demographic impact, and what the next generation of high-rises in London might look like.

The 2026 survey, drawing on intelligence from the GLA Data Planning Hub and analysis by PriceHubble, showcases the latest tall building pipeline across London. It provides key statistics on completed applications, uses and typologies, borough density and distribution and rental demographics. Alongside this data, the report brings together industry commentary and cross-sector thought leadership, offering a comprehensive overview of the role and impact of high-rise development across the city.

Download Speaker Presentations

John_Palmer-BSR.pdf
Hans_Jansen-Permasteelisa.pdf
Callum_Tuckett-Multiplex.pdf
Earls_Court-Sheppard-Robson.pdf
Tom_Sleigh-CoL.pdf

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Programme

Session One: London’s Tall Building Pipeline
This opening session convenes tall buildings specialists from across the public and private sectors to present an update on London’s tall buildings pipeline and reflect on the key findings of this year’s survey, commenting on the impact of changing regulations on delivery and identifying challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

09:00 Welcome from NLA
Owen Wainhouse, Associate Director, NLA
Opening address
John Palmer, Deputy Director of Operations, Building Safety Regulator
Deliverability and risk: key challenges and opportunities
Callum Tuckett, Director, Multiplex
Panel Discussion and Q&As

Chair: Sophie Goff, Associate Director, NLA
Speakers above, plus:
Dan Scanlon, President, Brookfield Properties
Simon Long, Lead Project Manager, Planning London Datahub, GLA
Julia Middleton, Real Estate Economist, PriceHubble

Session Two: Futureproofing Tall Buildings: Retrofit and Innovation

This session explores how tall buildings are responding to changing regulations and sustainability targets, showcasing the importance of innovations and reuse practices in unlocking long-term value.

10:05 Welcome from Chair
Sophie Goff, Associate Director, NLA
Supporting material innovation amid a changing landscape
Hans Jansen, Lead Concept Design, Permasteelisa Group
Re-inventing towers of the future
Giota Kotsovinou, Associate Director, Canary Wharf Group
Panel Discussion and Q&As
Speakers above, plus: Russell Whitehead, Director, Robert Bird Group

10:50 - 11:30 BREAK

Session Three: Beyond the Tower: Tall Buildings and the future of public realm

This closing session examines how tall buildings shape life at ground level. Beyond their impact on the skyline, towers influence streets, public spaces, connectivity, and the social and economic vitality of neighbourhoods.

11:30 Welcome from Chair
Sophie Goff, Associate Director, NLA
The civic role of Tall Buildings in the city
Tom Sleigh, Chair Planning and Transport Committee, City of London Corporation
From the ground up
Anna Shapiro, Partner, Sheppard Robson
Sharon Giffen, Head of Design, Earls Court Development Company
Panel Discussion and Q&As
Speaker above, plus: Ken Shuttleworth, Founding Partner, Make Architects

12:30 - 13:00 Networking

13:00 ENDS

Speaker biographies

Sophie Goff

Associate Director, NLA

Simon Long

Lead Project Manager - Planning London Datahub, Greater London Authority

John Palmer

Director of Operations, Building Safety Regulator

Tom Sleigh

Chair of the Planning and Transportation Committee, City of London Corporation

Giota Kotsovinou

Associate Director, Canary Wharf Group

Hans Jansen

Lead Concept Design, Permasteelisa Group

Sharon Giffen

Head of Design, The Earls Court Development Company

Ken Shuttleworth

Founding Partner, Make Architects

Owen Wainhouse

Associate Director, NLA

Russell Whitehead

Design Director, Robert Bird Group

Callum Tuckett

Managing Director, Multiplex

Dan Scanlon

President, Brookfield Properties

Anna Shapiro

Partner, Sheppard Robson Architects LLP

SOLD OUT

General admission tickets have sold out.

FREE FOR MEMBERS

Discount will be applied automatically during order.

Please note due to the popularity of this event there is a limit of 3 attendees per organisation.

VENUE

One Leadenhall, 1 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3V 1PP