TO BE PUBLISHED January 2026
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This conference will assess next steps for regional and spatial planning reform in England as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill progresses through Parliament, with provisions to introduce Spatial Development Strategies as a method to increase development across England.
Areas for discussion include priorities for developing Spatial Development Strategies, proposed reforms and new powers, coordinating housing and infrastructure delivery, and balancing national growth ambitions with environmental stewardship and local democratic accountability.
Policy & new powers
Stakeholders and policymakers will discuss proposals in both the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.
The potential impact of mayoral call-in powers for strategically important developments will be examined, alongside discussion on Mayoral Development Orders enabling mayors in Strategic Authorities to bypass local planning processes. Attendees will consider implications for planning approvals and housing delivery outcomes, and assess outstanding barriers such as skills shortages and resourcing constraints for local planning authorities.
Discussion will also address new powers for development corporations, including best practice in deploying these mechanisms for large-scale and complex projects, and the impact of Mayoral Development Area designations. Further consideration will be given to changes in the compulsory purchase process, particularly around administrative cost, speed, fairness, and community confidence.
Assessing existing local approaches & coordination with national objectives
Delegates will assess what can be learned from existing frameworks such as the London Plan and Greater Manchester’s Places for Everyone, and how these approaches might be adapted elsewhere.
The influence of political dynamics and community pressures on adoption will be discussed, as well as alignment between regional strategies, Local Plans, and neighbourhood planning - including tensions between strategic coordination and local autonomy. The conference will also examine coordination of regional spatial planning with national objectives for housing, infrastructure, and industrial growth.
The agenda includes a focus on the Industrial Strategy and 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy, assessing how plans can harness economic benefits from major projects, clusters, and designated Industrial Strategy Zones.
Attendees will also consider the evolving role of national agencies such as NISTA in delivery and coordination, including the use of digital spatial planning tools to strengthen place-based infrastructure investment and utility delivery through long-term certainty and clear objectives. Collaboration between NISTA, regional, and local authorities across different governance models, including areas outside combined authorities, will also be discussed.
Implementation & delivery capacity
Further sessions focus on delivery capacity and oversight, including equipping planning teams to meet new statutory duties, ensuring delivery of social infrastructure, and the proposed standardisation of planning committees through a National Scheme of Delegation.
Discussion will also consider sustainable funding models, recruitment and retention, and how technology and shared services can enhance planning capacity across authorities.
Democratic engagement & accountability
Strategic and practical considerations for sustaining democratic engagement will be discussed, focusing on transparency, data use, and maintaining community involvement while meeting national policy requirements and addressing cross-boundary challenges.
Further discussion is expected on implications for governance, accountability, and confidence in delivery, including responsibilities between strategic authorities and local councils.
Land use framework & future priorities
Delegates will also assess the expected Land Use Framework and its role in supporting housing and infrastructure delivery while balancing agricultural and environmental priorities. Consideration will be given to how the framework can support regional and local decision-making and encourage multifunctional land use.
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 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government; Department for Transport; Ministry of Defence; Forestry Commission; and Active Travel England.
