International law firm Trowers & Hamlins is hosting a real estate forum at its offices in London, bringing together The Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (REDHA) Institute and a delegation of Malaysian industry leaders to unlock UK insights of sustainable cities and urban regeneration.
As a leading regional strategic industry think tank and international knowledge exchange platform, REHDA Institute connects Malaysia’s real estate leaders with global institutions shaping the future of cities. REHDA Institute facilitates direct engagement through curated study visits and strategic forums held in key global cities (including London, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Singapore) and across ASEAN destinations, partnering with internationally recognised organisations like Trowers & Hamlins.
The forum, part of a week-long study mission programme, will focus on urban regeneration laws and governance frameworks in the UK, offering comparative insights relevant to Malaysia’s ongoing planning and housing reforms.
Tom Reynolds, Partner at Trowers & Hamlins said:
"We are excited to host REHDA Institute and so many industry leaders from Malaysia. As an international firm with a strong and long-standing presence in Malaysia, combined with the recognised depth and expertise of our UK real estate business, it's important for us to stay connected, exchange ideas and share experiences across the urban regeneration, social/affordable housing, PPP and other sectors in the real estate industry. We're looking forward to what should be a very insightful and inspiring session, and the opportunity to learn from, and exchange mutually beneficial ideas with, the Malaysian delegation."
The delegation, comprising senior developers, urban planners, legal experts, and government representatives, will engage with the UK policymakers, academic institutions, and industry practitioners to study international approaches in sustainable urban development.
The mission comes at a critical time as Malaysia advances urban regeneration initiatives, implements strata law reforms and introduces policies aimed at improving public transport connectivity, easing congestion and enhancing urban liveability.
The programme will include participation in four strategic forums across the UK. In London, delegates will meet with architects from Foster + Partners to discuss transit-oriented development (TOD), urban regeneration, and planning strategies.
The delegation will also engage with London deputy mayor Tom Copley for housing and residential development. The delegation will then travel to Bath for a Sustainability and Water Management Forum hosted by Wessex Water in collaboration with property developer YTL Developments, focusing on sustainable infrastructure and water management strategies.
The programme will conclude in Cambridge with a Housing and Urban Planning Forum co-organised with the University of Cambridge and the Anglia Ruskin University, aimed at facilitating knowledge exchange on planning innovation and sustainable housing delivery.
The delegation will also undertake site visits to several major Malaysian-led developments in the UK, some of which Trowers & Hamlins is proud to have advised on. The site visits include Embassy Gardens by Eco World Development Group Bhd, Royal Mint Gardens by IJM Corp Bhd, Brabazon by YTL Developments, and a student accommodation project in Woolwich developed by Gamuda Land.
Dato Jeffrey Ng Tiong Lip, Chairman of Rehda Institute said:
"This study tour is relevant for gaining critical international insights and understanding best practices and benchmarks for adaptation, which are essential for elevating Malaysia's human capital and expertise in the housing, and built environment sectors. As our urban landscapes evolve and grow in complexity, industry stakeholders require profound practical knowledge and innovative strategies in urban planning and regeneration, heritage conservation and social/ public housing delivery. By fostering direct engagement with UK policymakers and experts, we are empowering our leaders to create more resilient, liveable, and strategically developed Malaysian cities."
The strategic forums and the visits will provide participants with insights into large-scale regeneration projects, adaptive reuse initiatives, purpose-built rental housing models, and integrated urban district planning.
