UK & Ireland Rural Conference
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Overview
The UK&I Rural Conference 2025 brought together rural surveyors, land agents and built environment professionals from across the sector for a full day of insight, debate and collaboration. The conference provided a fresh setting for in-depth discussion on the forces reshaping rural land management.
Across the day, delegates explored how policy reform, sustainability ambitions and technological innovation are transforming rural practice. Expert speakers shared practical perspectives on navigating regulatory complexity, supporting landowners through change, and identifying new opportunities emerging from environmental and energy-led initiatives.
The programme focused on real-world application, with sessions designed to help attendees interpret legislation, respond confidently to reform and future-proof their advice. From planning and compulsory purchase to taxation, decarbonisation and regenerative agriculture, the conference highlighted the expanding role of rural professionals in balancing productivity, resilience and long-term value.
Register your interest to receive early updates on the 2026 programme, speakers, and sponsorship opportunities.
Key learnings from 2025
Navigating emerging land use policies
Delegates examined the implications of the UK government’s Land Use Framework and discussed how rural surveyors can influence land management decisions that balance food production, infrastructure delivery, energy generation and nature recovery.
Understanding new planning reforms
The programme provided an in-depth look at the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, with speakers outlining how recent and proposed regulatory changes are expected to impact rural landowners, businesses and local communities.
Adapting to compulsory purchase reforms
Sessions explored how reforms to compulsory purchase processes are reshaping land acquisition and valuation, equipping delegates with practical approaches for advising clients through change.
Optimising tax strategy for rural landowners
Expert insights covered capital gains tax, inheritance tax and the tax treatment of environmental schemes, supporting more effective financial and strategic decision-making in rural land management.
Engaging with nature recovery
Delegates learned how natural capital, biodiversity net gain and nature recovery initiatives can be leveraged to restore natural assets while unlocking new commercial and policy-driven opportunities.
Accelerating decarbonisation and energy generation
The conference highlighted the pivotal role of the rural sector in achieving net-zero targets, with discussion on emerging opportunities across renewable energy projects including wind, solar and bioenergy.
Harnessing geospatial intelligence
Speakers demonstrated how geospatial data, GIS and remote sensing are transforming rural land management and planning, enabling improved compliance, biodiversity delivery and climate resilience.
Exploring regenerative agriculture
Discussions focused on the principles of regenerative agriculture and how sustainable farming practices are being adopted to restore soil health and enhance long-term land productivity.
Speakers
- Gerard Smith MRICS FAAV REV, Senior Partner, Lacy Scott & Knight
- Chris Lyons, Innovation Lead – Agriculture and Food, Innovate UK
- Nicole Wright, Head of Planning, Rural Solutions
- Neil Gladwin, Profession Support & Assurance Technical Specialist (Valuation), RICS
- Dougie Bowers MRICS, Principal Surveyor, VOA
- David Bussey, Partner, Saffery
- Faye Smith, Supporter Engagement & Fundraising Manager, LionHeart
- Jim Rouquette, Director and Co-founder, Natural Capital Solutions
- Gwilym Jenkins, Senior Associate Director – Farming & Renewables, Strutt & Parker
- Rob Garratt, Head of Development, Clearstone Energy
- Chris Thyer, Partner – Energy and Renewables, Bidwells
- Phill Ridley, Senior Business Development Consultant, 1Spatial
Looking ahead to 2026
To find out more about sponsoring our UK&I Rural Conference, please contact partnerships@rics.org.
