We are pleased to announce the TCPA’s 2025 Annual Conference will focus on the Purpose of Planning.
Championing sustainable development
The TCPA has chosen this year’s theme to reflect the important work it has been doing to campaign for a clear purpose of planning, one that reframes the English planning system based on the United Nations principles of sustainable development.
The Westminster government has embarked on what it has referred to as the biggest changes to English planning in a generation.
The Westminster government has embarked on what it has referred to as the biggest changes to English planning in a generation. This has been motivated by the government’s desire to deliver its economic growth mission, and a target of 1.5m new homes.
Planning -a system without a purpose?
Planning has also been described by some, rather mischievously, as a ‘system without a purpose’. But many, including the TCPA, argue that the planning system can be transformational. So, what should the purpose of the planning system be? What is the role of local democracy and communities in planning? And how can the tension between economic growth and development and protecting the environment be managed?
The English planning system has no meaningful statutory purpose. The requirement to ‘contribute to the achievement’ of sustainable development has not been meaningful. As paragraph nine of the NPPF indicates, the policies on sustainable development ‘are not criteria against which every decision can or should be judged’.
The planning system is driven by a complex and inter-related network of elected members, planners, expert specialists, developers and most importantly, the communities they serve. In order to drive collaborative behaviour we need a shared vision across stakeholders, and a clear definition of the ‘purpose of planning’ and what we aim to achieve. The TCPA has worked with a range of organisations across the built environment sector to campaign for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to contain a purpose of planning clause.
The planning system is driven by a complex and inter-related network of elected members, planners, expert specialists, developers and most importantly, the communities they serve.
On the agenda
This year’s conference will explore key issues including, whether communities are indeed an essential ingredient to sustainable development, what the proposals in the Bill mean for planning for the environment. We’ll also show what ambitious approaches to managing green infrastructure and nature recovery look like on the ground.
The final element of this event will recognise that the current planning reforms involve the implementation of changes in legislation put in the place by the previous government, and now further policy and legislative changes being progressed by the current government. In this session, senior civil servants set out what changes are on the horizon.
The TCPA Annual Conference will take place at Regent’s University, London, NW1 4NS on Thursday 27 November 10am – 3:30pm.
View the full agenda and book your ticket: TCPA Annual Conference 2025
We are grateful for the support of Greenbelt Group .
