Morning, Thursday, 28th January 2027
Online
This conference will consider next steps for regional spatial planning in England, looking at the implementation and implications of increased regional powers and responsibilities in areas such as housebuilding, infrastructure planning and economic growth. The planned agenda will examine key issues and priorities moving forward in light of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 and publication of the revised National Planning Policy Framework in August 2026.
It will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to assess practical requirements for developing Spatial Development Strategies, including emerging geographies and Strategic Planning Boards, and the division of responsibilities between Strategic Authorities and constituent councils. Discussion will explore implications of local government reorganisation and proposed new mayoral planning powers, with arrangements for their implementation currently under consultation, such as intervention in applications of potential strategic importance and Mayoral Development Orders.
Housing, growth locations, infrastructure & funding
Planned sessions will consider the role strategic planning can play in housing and economic growth, and its implications for councils, communities, developers and infrastructure providers, including approaches to distributing development needs across local authority areas, identifying broad locations for growth, and coordinating development with transport, energy, water and digital infrastructure. Attendees will look at the relationship between SDSs, Local Growth Plans and the Modern Industrial Strategy, alongside how regional priorities interact with nationally significant infrastructure and the 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy.
Sessions will also examine infrastructure sequencing and funding, development viability, developer contributions and the potential role of development corporations, the Mayoral Community Infrastructure Levy, and other delivery mechanisms in translating strategic priorities into investable projects.
Delivery capacity, accountability & lessons from existing strategic plans
Further discussion will assess priorities for practical delivery and governance, including planning capacity, evidence and data requirements, engagement between Strategic Authorities, infrastructure providers, developers and local communities, and approaches to supporting democratic accountability as decision-making operates increasingly across local authority boundaries.
Lessons from established and emerging approaches to strategic planning will be considered, including the London Plan and Places for Everyone, and options for strategic plans to provide certainty for infrastructure and development, take account of environmental capacity and climate resilience, and reflect local circumstances.
Overview of areas for discussion
- SDS preparation, geography & governance:
- defining functional geographies and Strategic Planning Board arrangements - representation of district councils - cross-boundary governance, voting and cost-sharing
- areas at different stages of devolution - democratic accountability and community input - resourcing and funding for SDS preparation
- shared evidence on housing, employment land, infrastructure and environmental capacity - coordinating SDSs and local-plan timetables
- plan hierarchy, conformity & transition:
- general conformity of Local Plans with SDSs - scope for local variation - tensions between strategic and local priorities
- transition between existing and new-style plans - local government reorganisation - certainty while policies are prepared
- proposed mayoral planning powers & development management:
- applications of potential strategic importance - thresholds, call-in and direction powers - relationships with local planning committees and councillors
- Mayoral Development Orders and Local Development Orders - implementation capacity and casework
- housing requirements, locations & viability:
- distributing housing need between constituent authorities - identifying broad growth locations - development around transport hubs - Green Belt and Grey Belt considerations
- affordable housing and viability - land availability and deliverability - balancing housing requirements with infrastructure and environmental constraints
- how SDSs interact with Environmental Delivery Plans, the Nature Restoration Fund, Local nature recovery strategies, and the New Towns programme
- infrastructure funding, sequencing & delivery:
- Mayoral Community Infrastructure Levy outside London, developer contributions and public investment - interaction with the 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy, NISTA and NSIPs
- sequencing infrastructure with development - aligning housing and employment growth with transport, energy, water and digital capacity - identifying and addressing constraints
- regional growth, strategic sites & implementation capacity:
- translating Local Growth Plans and Industrial Strategy priorities into spatial requirements - strategic employment land, data centres and growth-sector clusters
- development corporations, land assembly and major regeneration - planning and specialist skills - credible investment pipelines and certainty for developers and infrastructure providers
