DCP + COMPASS Editor Martin Shingler will be leading an AM surgery (9.00 - 17.30) to answer your individual questions.

Get a complimentary COMPASS expert search of planning appeals (worth £1,375). Recent topics include loss of retail units, housing land supply, and agricultural building conversions. You'll also get relevant extracts from the DCP Manual for policy and legal insights.

• Which elements of the reforms are likely to be pursued whichever party is in power
• Which bits of the government's current reform programme would Labour ditch, and which might they keep
• Which parts of the current reform agenda would a new Tory or coalition govt be likely to retain, and what might be dropped

Moderator: Richard Garlick, Editor, Planning 

• What are the implications of the split between the policy retained in the NPPF and that put in new NDMPs?
• What are the implications of the draft NDMPs for plan-making?
• What restrictions will the new NDMPs put on local authorities when drawing up plans?

• How the NPPF revisions have changed what green belt development is/is not permissible
  
• What are the implications for authorities/developers
• In what circumstances will inspectors allow appeals against refusals of applications on green belt, and releases of green belt in local plans
• How can innovative urban planning approaches leverage technology?
  

• What advancements have been made in digitising the planning process?
  
• How are developers adapting to the digital transformation of the planning process, and what challenges and opportunities does it present?
• In what ways can local planning authorities leverage digitisation to streamline 

• Why have some joint development plans succeeded and others failed?
  
• The proposed replacement for the duty to cooperate - what is it/ might it be, and how should councils approach this challenge in the meantime?
  

• How can officers best support members with planning responsibilities?
• How can officers and members avoid a breakdown in relations over contentious applications?
• How can officers and members retain trust in the face of concerted community campaigns? 
• The factors that can cause big cost awards against councils as a result of planning appeals.
• How can members and officers work together to avoid them?
• How councillors, developers and other stakeholders can best engage with each other without compromising themselves
• What officers should do when members are not behaving professionally
  

Moderator: Samer Bagaeen, Professor of Planning & Resilient Systems, University of Kent

• How can stakeholders overcome the challenges of nutrient neutrality to facilitate sustainable development?
  
• Exploring Alternative Approaches: What strategies and frameworks can be employed to promote nutrient neutrality without relying on new legislation?
• How can LPAs and applicants take advantage of the govt’s Nutrient Mitigation Scheme?
• How can LPAs and applicants short-cut the process to demonstrate nutrient neutrality?
• Collaborative Solutions: How can developers, local authorities, and environmental organisations work together to address nutrient neutrality  issues and unlock development opportunities?
  

• What differentiate robust energy efficiency standards in local plans from those that are vulnerable to challenge?
  

DCP + COMPASS Editor Martin Shingler will be leading an AM surgery (9.00 - 15.30) to answer your individual questions.

Get a complimentary COMPASS expert search of planning appeals (worth £1,375). Recent topics include loss of retail units, housing land supply, and agricultural building conversions. You'll also get relevant extracts from the DCP Manual for policy and legal insights.

• How does the Labour Party plan to increase the availability of affordable housing and address the housing crisis within the national planning framework? 
• What strategies does Labour propose to promote sustainability and environmental conservation in urban development and infrastructure projects? 
• In what ways does Labour envision enhancing community involvement and social equity in the national planning process?

Moderator: David Blackman, Freelance Journalist, Editor and Researcher

• Policy continuity or overhaul? Exploring the potential impact of government transitions on the planning landscape
  
• How can planning professionals stay informed about political shifts and anticipate potential changes in policy agendas during government transitions?
• What strategies and skills should planning professionals prioritise to ensure adaptability and resilience amidst evolving political landscapes?
  

• Update on government plans to end Extension of Time agreements, review the role of statutory consultees and extend permitted development rights
  
• How the Planning Inspectorate plans to accelerate decision-making on appeals?
  
• Ideas and opportunities for accelerating decision-making in planning
  

• In the initial six months, how are councils and developers managing biodiversity net gain?
  
• What significant effects and insights have emerged during this period?
• In dealing with biodiversity net gain, how do developers incorporate methods like offsite mitigation?
• What strategies do developers employ to tackle biodiversity net gain challenges?
• How are councils allocating resources towards biodiversity net gain initiatives?
  

• Evaluating Excellence: Discover the key factors and benchmarks utilised by judges to assess planning submissions for awards.
• Showcasing Success: Explore firsthand accounts and examples of noteworthy planning 
• endeavours recognised by award judges, showcasing their inventive strategies and accomplishments.
• Insights for Submissions and Victors: Acquire valuable insights into the distinguishing features of award-winning planning endeavours and glean practical tactics for enhancing submission quality and optimising project outcomes.

• How can planning departments effectively attract top talent?
  
• What strategies can be employed to empower planning professionals through professional growth opportunities and recognition?
• Professional growth and development: empowering planning professionals through training, mentorship, and recognition
• How to boost morale and retention by solving the working from home conundrum
  

• How are design codes produced, and what steps are involved in their creation?
• What are the implications of LPA-wide codes specifically (required by the LURA)?
• What makes an area-wide design code successful?
  

Moderator: Shruthi Guruswamy, Associate Director of Masterplanning and Urban Design, Arcadis and Member of Women in Planning 

• How might submitting a local plan under the existing system differ from the planned new system? 
  
• How to build the stakeholder agreement/member buy-in to take a plan forward quickly?
• Optimising resources for expedited local plan submission
• How best to share knowledge/good practice?
  

• How will the 30 month time limited system for producing local plans work?
• What implications will the streamlining of evidential requirements have, even if the soundness test remains?
• Implications for developers and local planning authorities?
• How local authorities are approaching plan reviews in light of the new system?
• How do PINS intend to approach plan examination under the new system?

• What are the key challenges faced?
• Who to engage with and via what means?
• What benefits, beyond the actual development itself, need to be communicated
• The pitfalls 
• What does the future look like – new technologies