One Big 2026: The power of partnerships - from vision to delivery

The Senedd Election will set a new horizon for Wales, and as a sector we will be standing at the threshold of a defining chapter.

We have a key part to play in ending the housing crisis, but we can't do it alone. Our true strength lies in the power of "we".

Our ambition is clear: more homes, better homes and fairer places. But we know the next four years will demand commitment, collaboration and resilience as we move from high-level vision to practical action.

At this year's One Big conference, we will celebrate the powerful partnerships that already exist across the sector and explore the opportunities that radical collaboration and deep-rooted partnerships create to ensure that our shared legacy is a Wales where there are homes for every future.

Draft programme

DAY 1 - THURSDAY 2 JULY

8.45am Registration, networking and exhibition viewing

9.40am Introduction to Day One - Chair’s Welcome

9.50am Keynote | A New Mandate for Wales: The post election landscape

The votes have been counted and the new Senedd is in session. As the political dust settles in Wales, this opening keynote will provide a high-level briefing on the new government’s vision for Wales. We will explore the immediate priorities of the incoming administration and a "birds-eye view" of the political landscape, identifying the key themes that will define the next four years of Welsh housing policy.

10.20am Panel: The delivery blueprint

Now that we have mapped the new political landscape in our opening keynote, this session pivots from what the new government wants to how we deliver it. Our expert panel will break down the high-level Senedd ambitions into a practical roadmap for the sector. We move beyond manifesto promises to discuss the practicalities of delivery in development, asset management, and housing services. Our panelists will debate the collaboration required to meet high-level targets in a shifting economic and political climate, providing a candid look at how we can align our organisational strategies with the new national agenda while continuing to provide high-quality homes for the people of Wales.

• Rhea Stevens, Community Housing Cymru
• Paul Bradley, SFHA
• Auriol Miller, Cynon Taf Community Housing Group
• Ollie Cole, Times Radio

11am Coffee Break/Exhibition Viewing/Networking

12pm Workshops

1) Unlocking the potential of gap sites

2) Warm homes, shared goals 

We know that a house is only a home when it’s safe, comfortable, and affordable to heat. This session moves beyond the technical jargon of 'retrofit' to focus on what truly matters to residents. Join us as we explore how housing associations and residents are co-designing the journey toward energy efficiency - ensuring that the homes of the future are not just greener, but warmer and cheaper to run for everyone.
 

3) Making health partnerships work

In 2026, the most effective 'prescription' for a healthier Wales is a high-quality home. While the vision is clear, operationalising it requires a shift in our everyday tools. This session explores how to leverage existing RPB structures and scale the Hospital to Home mission. Join us to transition to a reality where housing is recognised and funded as a vital public health intervention

• Beth Underwood, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
• Sam Austin, Cardiff & Vale Regional Partnership Board
• Audit Wales, Fflur Jones

4) Resident-led asset intelligence

The traditional approach to asset management is increasingly insufficient in a landscape of heightened safety standards and digital transformation. This session will discuss the transition from reactive repair cycles to proactive interventions enabled by data. By leveraging resident feedback loops alongside real-time building performance data, organisations can optimise resource allocation, mitigate systemic risks such as damp and mould, and ensure that every pound of expenditure delivers maximum value for the community.

• Henrik von Bahr, Plentific
• TBC
   

12.45pm Lunch/Networking/Exhibition Viewing

13.55pm Fireside chat | The Great Connector: Housing as the foundation for a sustainable Wales.

with Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales

This conversation will explore how sustainable placemaking and radical innovation in the housing association sector can move us beyond crisis management. Discover how the housing sector can lead the charge in preventing ill-health, alleviating poverty, and creating communities  that aren't just focused on today, but also fit for the future.

14.35pm Workshops

1) Tackling barriers to build more homes: where next?

In recent years, significant activity has been undertaken to identify the persistent barriers to social housing delivery and the opportunities to increase pace and scale. Building on the recent work and recommendations of the Affordable Housing Taskforce, this session will explore the government's plans to tackle the most stubborn barriers facing the sector, and explore how to go further to expedite delivery.

• Helga Warren and Stuart Fitzgerald, Welsh Government

2) Caredig: Embedding Kindness through the TrACE-Informed Framework

This session explores Caredig’s journey in embedding the Trauma and ACE (TrACE) Informed framework as a core strategic pillar. We will examine how a 'Kindness' mandate, supported by a 360 Psychological Model, has transformed their approach and what they plan to do next.

• Stephen Evans and Sarah Turner 

3) Better outcomes for heat pumps in social housing: The Bristol experience

Supporting tenants on the transition to low-carbon heating means making sure their experience is a positive one. How can you ensure tenants engage with the decarbonisation process, and are satisfied with the outcomes, and that assets are managed effectively?

Nesta and Bristol City Council worked in partnership to understand and improve the performance of heat pumps in Bristol’s housing stock. Their innovative work on assessing existing installs and optimising them, as well as interviews with tenants at each step of the way, has produced far-reaching findings.

Find out more about how this real-world learning has resulted in practical insights that inform better installation practice, resident engagement and policy design across the UK.

•  Elin Price, Nesta
   

4) The Cascade: High-Rise Timber Innovation

The Cascade represents a landmark shift in Welsh architecture, challenging the boundaries of sustainable urban development. Join the team behind the project to go 'under the skin' of The Cascade, examining the sophisticated engineering and collaborative procurement strategies that have successfully delivered a world-class example of high-density, low-carbon social housing.

• Grant Prosser, Codi Group

15.20pm Coffee Break/Exhibition Viewing/Networking

15.50pm Panel | Good homes for all: what will it really take?

What does a "good home" actually mean in 2026, and why is it the key to unlocking Wales’ economic and physical health? This panel asks the difficult questions: How can a cross-government strategy actually work on the ground? What do health and wealth look like when they are built into the fabric of our homes? We move beyond the "what" to focus on the "how," exploring the collaborative models that are already working and the barriers we must still break down. Discover what it really takes to lead a unified charge for better homes, better health, and a more resilient Wales.

• Clare Way, Tai Tarian
• Caroline O'Flaherty, Hugh James
• Adekanye Ifaturoti, Taff Housing
• Amy Bainton, Tai Pawb

16.20pm Close of Day 1 - Chair’s reflections

17.00pm Drinks reception

19.00pm Dinner

20.30pm Evening entertainment
 

DAY 2 - FRIDAY 3 JULY
 

8.00am Wellbeing activity

8.45am Registration, networking and exhibition viewing

9.40am Introduction to Day Two - Chair's Welcome

9.50am Keynote | Shaping the future of the housing workforce

10.20am Panel session | How do we build the workforce we need to deliver our shared priorities?

The 2026 skills revolution cannot be won by housing associations acting in isolation. How can we use our collective power in Wales to create a stable, resilient construction workforce? We bring together leaders from development, education, and the frontline to discuss the creation of regional skills hubs and the transition to a digital-first construction culture. 

• Ifan Glyn, Federation of Master Builders
• Samantha Howells, Codi Group
• Matt Dicks, CIH Cymru

11am Coffee break, networking and exhibition viewing

12pm Workshops

1) New homelessness legislation in Wales: learning from best practice

In this session we will reflect on how housing associations can learn from and scale up best practice on partnership working to make the new homelessness legislation a success.

• Neil Morland

2) Community-Led Housing

3) Briefing zone: Delivering the new fire safety regime

• Steve Pomeroy (Welsh Government), Rebecca Rees (Hugh James)

4) Improving homes and communities: Lessons from the Netherlands

• Elly Lock (Community Housing Cymru), Julian Ransom (iON Consultants), Serena Jones (Beacon Cymru), 

12.50pm Joint keynote | Stronger Together: The Radical Power of Partnership

In 2026, the traditional top-down model of service delivery is no longer sustainable. Join this session to explore the 'Torfaen Deal' a landmark social contract that reimagines the relationship between the council, housing providers, and residents.

As Wales’ first Marmot Council, Torfaen has moved beyond strategy to prove that health and resilience are created in communities, not hospitals. This session provides a masterclass in shifting power, tackling the root causes of inequality, and why radical partnership is the only way to deliver lasting social value in a challenging economy.

• Catherine Love (Bron Afon) and Dave Leech (Torfaen County Borough)

1.20pm End of Day 2 - Chair’s reflections

1.30pm Conference close and takeaway lunch
 

Accommodation

We have reserved rooms at the Metropole for our conference delegates. To book a room, call the Metropole directly on 01597 823700 and let them know that you are booking for the One big conference. You will pay through the Metropole and they will handle your booking.

If there is no room at the Metropole or you would like to stay elsewhere, the below options are available:

• The Llanerch Inn (10 minute walk from metropole)
   
• Highland Moors Guesthouse (0.4 miles from centre) 
   
• Hampton Hotel (0.7 miles from centre) 
  
   

Local taxi firms if staying further out:

George’s Taxi – 07498729724
Adeys Taxi – 01597822188

Both of the above are local recommendations.