24th November : 10:00 am – 3:15 pm
Regent’s University London, Inner Circle, Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4NS
Planning increasingly determines our resilience in the face of climate change and its impacts on our health.
The new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets the direction of a whole new generation of local and strategic plans. Key changes in the publication draft provide hooks for ambitious communities, councils and their development partners to plan for climate resilient and healthy places.
With excess deaths from heat waves, air pollution and the risk of flooding and coastal erosion to our towns and cities increasing, the planning system’s ability to adapt places to extreme weather conditions is an urgent challenge.
Join us to explore why planning is truly a matter of life and death, and to find out what practical solutions are available using the new NPPF and beyond.
What to expect
The TCPA Annual Conference 2026 will bring together public and private sector planners, policy makers, public health professionals, academics and practitioners to explore the vital role planning has in helping to create healthier, more resilient communities.
Draft programme:
Morning session 1:
The big picture – adapting to climate change and what it means for our places
How can places become more resilient in the face of growing climate risks?
Climate change is no longer a future challenge.It is already affecting the places where we live, work and thrive. From extreme heat and flooding to rising insurance costs and pressures on infrastructure, communities across the UK are experiencing the consequences of a changing climate. This opening session explores the scale of the adaptation challenge and the leadership needed to respond. Bringing together voices from different sectors, it will examine the costs of inaction, the implications of national adaptation policy, and how planning can help build safer, healthier and more resilient places.
Speakers will include Emma Howard Boyd CBE, Carolyn Scott, Aviva plc, Miriam Kennedy, The Climate Change Committee and Kyle Gray, The Crown Estate
Morning session 2:
A matter of life and death – Deep dive into the health and climate crises
Climate change is increasingly a public health emergency.
Planning shapes the social, environmental and economic conditions that determine health outcomes. As climate impacts intensify, the links between environmental change and public health are becoming ever more apparent. This session takes a closer look at some of the most pressing challenges facing communities, including coastal change, extreme weather and wildfire risk. Through expert insights and practical examples, speakers will explore how the dramatic impacts of climate change affect health and wellbeing, and why creating healthy, resilient places must be at the heart of planning for the future.
Speakers will include Dr Sarah Whitmee, UK Health Security Agency, Dr Matthew Kirby, University of Manchester, and Rob Goodcliffe, Coastwise North Norfolk.
Afternoon session:
What we can do – Practical solutions for planners
What practical actions can planners take now to deliver healthier and more climate resilient places?
This solutions-focused session showcases examples of how planning can help communities adapt to climate change while improving quality of life. Through case studies on stewardship, urban cooling, green infrastructure and community resilience, speakers will demonstrate how planners, local authorities and development partners can translate policy ambitions into tangible outcomes. The session will provide practical lessons for delivering healthier, more climate-resilient places, and the TCPA’s Director of Policy will reflect on the opportunities in the context of the new planning framework.
Speakers will include SallyAnne Logan, Community Stewardship Solutions, Robin Waddell, Greenbelt Group, Polly Turton, Shade the UK, Penny Gruffydd, Swansea Borough Council and Fran Rolfe, Natural Resources Wales
Draft Agenda:
Please note, this agenda is subject to change.
| 10:00-10:30 | Registration and Networking Tea and coffee available in the Knapp Gallery across the Entrance Hall |
| 10:30 | Welcome and introduction from the Chair (5 minutes) |
| 10:35 | Session 1: Adapting to climate change (50 minutes) |
| 11:25 | Coffee break (20 minutes) in the Knapp Gallery across the Entrance Hall |
| 11:45 | Session 2: Deep dive on the health and climate crises (1 hour) |
| 12:45 | Lunch and networking (1 hour) in the Knapp Gallery across the Entrance Hall |
| 13:45 | Welcome back from the Chair (5 minutes) |
| 13:50 | Session 3: Practical solutions for planners (1 hour and 20 minutes) |
| 15:10 | Final remarks from the Chair (5 minutes) |
| 15:15 | Conference close |
Speakers will include representatives from:
- Aviva
- The Climate Change Committee
- UK Health Security Agency
- Natural Resources Wales
- Shade the UK
- Local authorities
Agenda subject to change. A full programme and list of speakers will be confirmed soon.
Thank you to our sponsors Greenbelt Group and Sport England.
If you have any questions please email Jack.Boreham@tcpa.org.uk. Book now to secure your places, as tickets are limited.
Check to see if you are part of a New Communities Group (NCG) or TCPA member organisation
For further details about the New Communities Group (NCG), click here
We want our events to be accessible, welcoming and engaging for everyone. This includes supporting any access, religious or dietary requirements. See the documents below for more details.
