Morning, Thursday, 28th January 2027
Online
This conference will examine next steps for regional spatial planning in England, as Spatial Development Strategies - setting out long-term priorities for development across groups of local authorities - are developed and mayors outside London prepare to take on new planning powers. Areas for discussion include SDS preparation and governance, the relationship with Local Plans, the distribution of housing and employment growth, infrastructure and environmental priorities, and funding and delivery.
With the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 and the revised National Planning Policy Framework of August 2026 now in place, the conference will bring together policymakers and stakeholders to discuss how the new arrangements will work in practice. Delegates will assess the opportunities and challenges involved in establishing long-term frameworks for growth across groups of authorities, including the identification of broad locations for development and the distribution of housing and other needs. They will also consider the practical role of strategic planning in reconciling growth ambitions with infrastructure and environmental constraints, and what will be needed to provide a workable basis for decisions by infrastructure providers and investors.
The requirement for Local Plans to be consistent with the broad policies and direction set out in SDSs has raised questions about how this can be reconciled with local priorities. Delegates will consider the practicalities of developing strategies across multiple authorities, including reaching agreement on shared priorities, establishing effective governance arrangements and managing the transition to the new system.
The agenda will also consider proposed mayoral planning powers outside London, including powers to intervene in applications of potential strategic importance, to make Mayoral Development Orders and to charge a Mayoral Community Infrastructure Levy. With the Government considering its response to consultation and aiming to bring the first powers into effect in early 2027, discussion is expected on the scope and thresholds of mayoral intervention, the proposed relationship between these powers and the adoption of SDSs, and how they will relate to local planning committees, councillors and communities.
Further discussion will consider the implications of regional spatial planning for those affected by it and responsible for delivering it, including developers, landowners and investors, infrastructure providers, housing providers, businesses, environmental interests and local communities. Delegates will consider the competing priorities and practical choices involved in reaching cross-boundary decisions on housing numbers, Green Belt and infrastructure costs, including implications for development viability, investment and the provision of local services. The conference will also look at what will be needed to maintain local accountability and engagement as more decisions are taken across wider geographies.
Governance, responsibilities & accountability in strategic planning
Delegates will examine the arrangements for establishing strategic planning across England, including responsibilities between authorities, decision-making across local boundaries and the implications for local democratic accountability.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- governance: Strategic Planning Authorities and Boards - representation of district councils ahead of reorganisation - decision-making, voting and cost-sharing
- different stages of devolution:
- arrangements for areas without mayors or undergoing local government reorganisation - interim arrangements ahead of mayoral elections
- differences in readiness and implementation timetables
- plan hierarchy: the relationship between SDSs and Local Plans - scope for local priorities within the strategic framework - the role of neighbourhood plans
- accountability: scrutiny of cross-boundary decisions - transparency in how development needs are distributed - the role of constituent councils and elected representatives
Spatial Development Strategy preparation, evidence & consultation
Sessions will consider the practicalities of developing SDSs, including assembling evidence across local authority areas, engaging stakeholders and managing the transition from existing planning arrangements.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- preparation & examination: consultation stages and independent examination - progress possible while regulations are being finalised - coordinating SDS and Local Plan timetables
- evidence & coordination:
- building on existing evidence - shared information on housing, employment land, infrastructure and environmental capacity
- role of ALIGN spatial planning tools in supporting decisions
- capacity & resourcing: planning capacity and specialist skills - funding for SDS preparation - pressures on Local Plan work running in parallel
- transition: translating strategic growth locations into site allocations through Local Plans - implications for plans adopted before an SDS is in place
- stakeholder engagement: community input in plans covering wider geographies - early involvement of developers, infrastructure providers, investors and businesses
- wider policy frameworks: the Land Use Framework and its planned map of national spatial priorities - NPPF, Local Growth Plans, Local Transport Plans and Local Nature Recovery Strategies
Housing, growth locations & infrastructure priorities
Sessions will examine how SDSs may influence decisions about where housing and economic growth should take place, and how these can be coordinated with infrastructure provision and environmental priorities. Discussion will consider the implications for local authorities, developers, infrastructure providers and communities, including competing demands for land and the practical constraints on development.
Areas for discussion include:
- housing distribution: apportioning need between constituent authorities - unmet need across SDS boundaries - Green Belt and grey belt - development around transport hubs
- housing mix: affordable and social housing - housing for older people and other specific needs - viability considerations at strategic level - the role of registered providers
- new settlements: the New Towns programme - urban extensions - how national and strategic decisions on location interact
- economic growth: translating Local Growth Plans and Industrial Strategy priorities into spatial requirements - strategic employment land, logistics, data centres and growth-sector clusters
- infrastructure capacity:
- electricity network connections and longer-term energy infrastructure planning, including the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan - water resources and wastewater
- transport connectivity - schools, health services and other social infrastructure - early engagement with infrastructure providers to identify and address constraints
- land use & environmental priorities:
- reconciling housing and economic growth with environmental objectives - brownfield and agricultural land - flood risk and climate resilience
- implications of Environmental Delivery Plans and Local Nature Recovery Strategies for strategic decisions on development locations
Funding, development management, mayoral powers & delivery
Further discussion will consider the funding, powers and delivery arrangements needed to put strategic priorities into practice, including the implications for development viability, investment decisions and the coordination of infrastructure with growth.
Areas for discussion include:
- infrastructure funding:
- who bears cost and risk - Mayoral Community Infrastructure Levy outside London - developer contributions and the separate arrangements for the Nature Restoration Levy
- public investment and the 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy - sequencing infrastructure ahead of development - responsibilities of NISTA, public bodies and infrastructure providers
- mayoral powers in practice:
- lessons from London's referral and call-in regime - transparency of intervention decisions - casework and specialist capacity
- Mayoral Development Orders and Local Development Order reforms - new arrangements for planning committees
- delivery mechanisms: development corporations - land assembly and compulsory purchase - major regeneration and new settlements
- investment & certainty: housing and infrastructure pipelines - interaction with NSIPs and national priorities - viability, risk and timescales for developers, investors and infrastructure providers
- learning from experience: the draft new London Plan - Places for Everyone in Greater Manchester - early SDS work in combined authority areas - monitoring delivery and review
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Department for Transport; Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; Forestry Commission; Marine Management Organisation; Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government; Office for Environmental Protection; Ofwat; National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority; Isle of Man Government; and the Welsh Government.
