TO BE PUBLISHED July 2025
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This conference will consider recent developments and proposed changes to the planning system in England, within the context of the Government’s target to deliver 1.5 million new homes during the current Parliament.
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to discuss recent developments, outstanding issues, and key considerations for implementing new measures in the National Planning Policy Framework. Attendees will assess priorities and concerns raised by stakeholders following the NPPF update, including the impact and feasibility of mandatory housing targets for councils, funding needed for local authority planners to manage increased applications, and the effectiveness of proposed reforms to Compulsory Purchase Orders.
There will be discussion on proposed measures in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill aiming to speed up and reduce blockages to housebuilding. Areas for discussion include the future framework for consent processes and delegation of planning decisions and fees, golden rules and updated definitions of green belt and grey belt, as well as ways forward if ambitions for affordable housing are to be achieved. Delegates will also consider implications of affordability requirements for the construction industry, and supporting SME developers amidst high building costs.
Sessions will also bring out latest thinking on the impact of proposed changes to environmental protection measures, including implementation of streamlined Environmental Outcome Reports and a Nature Restoration Fund, pooling of contributions for larger interventions, and wider options for assisting developers in meeting environmental obligations.
With the agenda currently in the drafting stage, overall areas for discussion include:
- policy:
- planning reforms and housing targets - the Planning and Infrastructure Bill - the revised NPPF
- mandatory housing targets for local authorities - policy coordination – considerations for cross boundary planning and implementing Spatial Development Strategies
- local planning:
- addressing capacity challenges - workforce shortages and resource constraints in planning departments - options for additional funding and training initiatives
- potential impact of streamlining infrastructure planning on local decision-making
- green belt and grey belt policy: implications of reclassifying land for development - grey belt definitions and regulation - strategic considerations for preservation of urban green spaces
- coordination: alignment of housebuilding targets with transport and utilities infrastructure - housing and commuter links - priorities for the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy and long-term planning
- affordable housing:
- financial constraints and options for addressing challenges in financing new developments - issues for SME builders
- funding mechanisms for housing associations to meet affordability targets - mortgage lending policies and options for policy intervention
- environmental protection:
- introduction of Environmental Outcome Reports - role of the Nature Restoration Fund
- priorities for biodiversity protection in large-scale developments - ensuring compliance with environmental obligations
- public and private sector housing delivery:
- the role of large developers in the future for housebuilding in England - addressing land banking - supporting competition
- best practice for effective public-private partnerships - assessing the New Homes Accelerator Programme
- community engagement:
- implications of changes to public consultation requirements in planning approvals - alternative approaches to providing local communities with a say in large-scale developments
- the future for accountability in planning decisions
- outstanding issues: moving on from the impact of delays in updating local plans - considering a phased approach to implementing planning reforms
- housing quality and design:
- potential updates to the National Design Guide and Model Design Code - the future for design standards - improving housing quality - community impact
- what will be needed from planning reforms to address concerns over build quality and sustainability
