Planning and Development Conference 2026

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 for large-scale new communities.

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

Integrating AI, data and digital tools into planning workflows responsibly and effectively.

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?

Assessing whether Greybelt policy balances viability, delivery and public interest.

James Brierley, Partner - Development, Newmark

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

How returns should be calculated and implications for negotiations and guidance.

12:05 – 12:15

Refreshment break

12:15 – 12:50

Assessing development risk – Unlocking stalled sites

Lessons from the New Homes Accelerator Programme on bringing forward consented but unbuilt 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

Key recent cases and statutory changes affecting planning and development 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

Planning frameworks, infrastructure sequencing, funding structures and partnership models for a major scheme.

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

Standardised approaches to Biodiversity Net Gain contributions.

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

Effectiveness of public land and funding interventions to accelerate delivery.

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

Aligning governance, SDSs and local plans for growth across the Arc.

Catriona Riddell, Director, Catriona Riddell & Associates Ltd

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

Public–private structures and funding models for strategic sites.

12:05 – 12:15

Refreshment break

12:15 – 12:50

Developing small urban sites – Unique challenges and opportunities

Viability, design, land assembly and market risk for small urban schemes.

Nick Cuff, CEO, Urban Sketch

12:50 – 13:00

Chair’s Closing Remarks