Kickstart your day with us by collecting your badge and enjoying a light breakfast with freshly brewed coffee and pastries. Take this opportunity to connect with other attendees before the National Planning Conference officially begins.

This session will explore recent updates to planning legislation and the NPPF, focusing on how the reforms are being implemented in practice.

Discover 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. We’ll also explore key challenges in adopting digital transformation.

We’ll assess progress toward the 1.5 million homes target, explore how to make affordable housing viable for all stakeholders, and discuss unlocking land and stalled sites while balancing urban density and suburban growth.

This panel will discuss the impact of policies like Biodiversity Net Gain and nutrient neutrality, how to address green belt constraints, and the integration of climate goals into planning for net zero.

How will new towns contribute to the national housing targets? Learn from past, what succeeded and what didn’t, and what this means for delivering the next generation of sustainable, well-planned communities.

We’ll examine the evolving role of Local Plans, coordination between planning authorities, and how national reforms are influencing local and strategic planning dynamics.

Explore how devolved powers and combined authorities are transforming regional development. From metro mayors leading housing and infrastructure strategies to councils working together to accelerate delivery, explore how local collaboration is driving meaningful, place-based change aligned with national priorities. Learn how to overcome barriers to cross-council planning and unlock the full potential of devolved governance.

This session will highlight the critical role of transport and utilities in enabling housing delivery, explore innovative funding models, examine the evolving NSIPs regime, and showcase how public-private partnerships can drive progress.

This session will examine how to streamline decision-making by reducing bottlenecks, address ongoing capacity challenges within local authorities, and reflect on positive changes seen since recent planning reforms.

We’ll explore how land classification influences planning decisions, assess the viability and permissions impacted by land categorisation, and consider current government policies on land use. The panel will also discuss how to unlock land for development while balancing environmental protection and economic growth.