Planning and Development Conference

09:00 – 09:10

Chair’s Opening Remarks

09:10 – 09:50

Two years of relentless planning reform – Are we seeing the results?

Two years into an ambitious programme of planning reform, government has placed housing delivery at the centre of its economic strategy. This session explores whether reforms are removing barriers and accelerating delivery.

09:50 – 10:00

Refreshment break

10:00 – 10:35

Development land market analysis: Confidence, capital and delivery

Land values as a leading indicator of sector confidence across regions and asset classes. How are viability pressures, policy shifts and funding conditions shaping land performance?

10:35 – 10:45

Refreshment break

10:45 – 11:20

Breakout sessions – delegates choose which talk they’d like to attend

Stream 1: New town & new settlement delivery – Governance, funding and delivery models

Governance structures, funding mechanisms and delivery models will be critical to the successful delivery of large-scale new communities. This session will explore the roles of public and private sector partners, approaches to land assembly and infrastructure funding, and lessons from existing and emerging new towns, providing attendees with practical insights into the governance, funding and delivery models most likely to support timely delivery, long-term stewardship and sustainable growth.

Or Stream 2: Digital planning for surveyors – Adopting AI in professional services

This session explores how surveyors can integrate AI, data and digital tools into planning workflows responsibly and effectively, providing practical insights into the technologies, governance considerations and approaches that can improve efficiency and support better decision-making.

11:20-11:30

Refreshment break

11:30-12:05

Breakout sessions – delegates choose which talk they’d like to attend

Stream 1: From Greenbelt to Greybelt – Do the ‘Golden Rules’ work?

This session assesses whether Greybelt policy is successfully balancing viability, housing delivery and the public interest. Drawing on emerging evidence and practical experience, attendees will gain insights into how the ‘Golden Rules’ are being applied in practice, their impact on development proposals, and the opportunities and challenges they present for bringing forward sites.

James Brierley, Partner - Development, Newmark

Or Stream 2: Calculating development returns – Annex B and the NPPF

This session explores how development returns should be calculated under Annex B of the NPPF and the implications for viability assessments, negotiations and decision-making. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of current guidance, key areas of interpretation, and the practical considerations shaping discussions between developers, landowners and planning authorities.

12:05 – 12:15

Refreshment break

12:15 – 12:50

Assessing development risk – Unlocking stalled sites

Thousands of homes have planning consent but remain undelivered. Drawing on lessons from the New Homes Accelerator Programme, this session will explore the barriers preventing schemes from progressing and the practical interventions being used to unlock delivery. Attendees will gain insights into assessing development risk, resolving site-specific challenges and accelerating the build-out of consented schemes.

12:50 – 13:00

Chair’s Closing Remarks

09:00 – 09:10

Chair’s Opening Remarks

09:10 – 09:50

Legal update – Case law and legislative change

Planning and development legislation continues to evolve, with new case law and statutory changes shaping decision-making, policy interpretation and development outcomes. This session will provide an overview of the most significant recent legal developments, offering practical insights into their implications for planning authorities, developers and advisers, and highlighting key issues to consider in day-to-day practice.

Louise Samuel, Partner, Town Legal

09:50 – 10:00

Refreshment break

10:00 – 10:35

Delivering large-scale development sites – The Alconbury case study

Attendees will gain practical insights into coordinating stakeholders, funding strategic infrastructure and managing the long-term delivery challenges associated with major mixed-use and garden community-scale schemes.

Tom Kimber, Senior Associate Planner, David Lock Associates 

10:35 – 10:45

Refreshment Break

10:45 – 11:20

Breakout sessions – delegates choose which talk they’d like to attend

Stream 1: Natural England – A new approach to biodiversity delivery

Natural England will provide an update on approaches to delivering biodiversity requirements, outlining what has changed and how the new system is being phased in. The session will highlight what developers need to be aware of when planning schemes and assessing their existing natural assets.

Dr Nick White, Principal Advisor, Strategic Solutions & Biodiversity Net Gain, Natural England

Or Stream 2: Releasing land for development – Insights from the National Audit Office

Drawing on findings from the National Audit Office, this session will examine the effectiveness of public land initiatives and funding interventions in accelerating housing and economic development. Attendees will gain insights into the barriers to bringing forward public land, lessons from recent government programmes, and the policy and delivery approaches most likely to support faster and more effective development outcomes.

Helen Hodgson, Director, Housing, Communities and Local Government Value for Money, National Audit Office

11:20 – 11:30

Refreshment break

11:30 – 12:05

Breakout sessions – delegates choose which talk they’d like to attend

Stream 1: Oxford–Cambridge Arc – Current status of play and Spatial Development Strategies

As momentum builds behind growth ambitions for the Oxford–Cambridge Arc, this session will examine the current policy landscape and the role of Spatial Development Strategies in supporting coordinated growth. Attendees will gain insights into aligning governance arrangements, SDSs and local plans, and the opportunities and challenges of delivering housing, infrastructure and economic growth across the Arc.

Catriona Riddell, Director, Catriona Riddell & Associates Ltd

Or Stream 2 Delivering large-scale development sites – Governance & partnership models

The successful delivery of strategic sites depends on effective governance, strong partnerships and sustainable funding structures. This session will explore public-private delivery models, approaches to risk and reward sharing, and the governance arrangements that can support long-term project delivery, providing attendees with practical insights into creating partnerships that unlock investment and accelerate development.

12:05 – 12:15

Refreshment break

12:15 – 12:50

Developing small urban sites – Unique challenges and opportunities

Small urban sites can make an important contribution to housing delivery but often face distinct challenges around viability, design, land assembly and market risk. This session will explore the practical and policy issues affecting smaller schemes, providing attendees with insights into overcoming delivery barriers, unlocking constrained sites and creating successful developments in urban locations.

Nick Cuff, CEO, Urban Sketch

12:50 – 13:00

Chair’s Closing Remarks