On 9th October, Aaron Smith and Henrietta Cole attended the National Planning Conference in Manchester. It was an insightful day listening to a variety of speaks discussing critical challenges and developing solutions for implementing change now whilst also shaping the future growth of the industry. Topics covered included grey belt, the housing emergency, environmental reforms, and integrating AI. It was also a great opportunity to network and share ideas.
The following sessions were attended:
From Policy to Practice – The Impact of Recent Planning Reform:
- This session explored the recent updates to planning legislation and the NPPF, focussing on how the reforms are being implemented in practice.
AI, Digitisation, and a more connected built environment:
- A session that presented the discovery of how artificial intelligence is reshaping planning decisions, the role of the golden thread of data, and why cross-sector collaboration is vital to a smarter planning system. The sessions also explored the key challenges in adopting digital transformation.
Bridging the Gap to Turn Targets into Affordable Housing Delivery
- This session outlined how best to progress towards the 1.5 million homes target, exploring how to make affordable housing viable for all stakeholders. The session discussed unlocking land and stalled sites while also balancing urban density and suburban growth.
Bridge our Future: Navigating the Impact of Environmental Legislation
- This panel discussed the impact of policies like Biodiversity Net Gain and Nutrient Neutrality, how best to address green belt constraints, and the integration of climate goals into planning for net zero.
Tackling the Housing Emergency in Regional Cities
- This session explored the critical relationship between housing delivery and economic growth in regional cities. The panel drew on real-world examples and research, examining how planning, investment, and policy aligns to unlock productivity, prosperity, and place-based outcomes.
The Greybelt Debate: Exploring the Impact of Land Categorisation on Development Viability
- A panel that explored how land classification influences planning decisions, assessing the viability and permissions impacted by land categorisations whilst also considering current government policies on land use. The panel also discussed how to unlock land for development whilst balancing environmental protection and economic growth.
Responding to the New Era of Strategic Planning
- This session focussed on the Governments agenda where planning is placed at the centre of national priorities. This included discussions on strategic planning, new towns, digital innovation, and delivery, with further discussions on how planners should respond.
