Planning Futures

Panel: Hannah David, Planning Futures (Chair); Richard Blyth, Head of Policy for the RTPI; Michael Stanworth, Director at Cavendish Consulting; Catriona Riddell, Director, Catriona Riddell & Associates Ltd.          

As we approach the fourth anniversary of the 2019 election, the planning world is beginning to focus on the issue of the next general election – which, at the very latest, will take place by January 2025.

Unlike the 2017 and 2019 general elections, which were unexpected, the next general election is the first election since 2015 that will take place within a reasonably predictable timeframe.

Given the current standing of the respective parties in the polls, it is also highly likely to deliver the first major change in government since 2010.

This poses a number of questions for those of us working across the planning and housing sectors.

This event will feature three presentations from leading planning policy and politics experts who will set out:

• How a change in Government could impact on planning policy in practical terms;
• What a Labour Government might mean for the planning world;
• How local authorities will respond to the uncertainty and change to come in the next couple of years.

We are delighted to announce that our New Year Member’s Reception will take place on Tuesday 9^th January 2024.

To mark the start of the New Year, Lee Rowley MP will deliver the keynote address setting out his vision for the year ahead in planning, the direction of travel for new planning policy and his expectations of the sector over the medium term.

We look forward to welcoming our members to the first in our new season of events.

The Local Elections held in May 2023 saw Labour become the biggest party in Local Government for the first time since 2002 and, as a result, the Labour Group is now the largest political group within
the Local Government Association (LGA).

In July 2023, Cllr Shaun Davies took over chairmanship of the organisation following a ballot of members of the Labour Group, also held in May that year.

Now he has settled into his new role, we are delighted that he will join us as guest speaker for the February edition of the Planning Futures Supper Club.

An experienced local government leader, Cllr Davies has been Leader of Telford and Wrekin Council
since 2016 and Vice Chair of the LGA from June 2022 until July 2023.

Following the usual Supper Club format, Cllr Davies will give an after-dinner speech in which he will set out his vision for the LGA under his leadership and outline some of the challenges facing local government in delivering the development that the country so desperately needs.

Planning Futures