Registration and refreshments
08:45 to
09:30
Chair’s welcome and opening remarks
09:30 to
09:55
- What will future environmental assessments look like?
- What does the industry need to streamline environmental studies?
- Modernising EIAs to ensure more effective assessments
Speaker:
Dr Rufus Howard.
Impact Assessment and Sustainable Finance Policy Lead.
ISEP.
Effectively conducting environment studies while preparing for policy changes – what do developers need to be aware of?
09:55 to
10:20
- Where are we now with the current EIA regime?
- Recent judicial reviews resulting from inadequate environmental studies – how to avoid legal challenges
- What proposed changes included in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill could mean for environmental studies?
Speaker:
Speaker from.
CMS.
The new role of Natural England in delivering the environmental outcomes needed for future projects
10:20 to
10:45
- How are Natural England’s responsibilities for implementing conservation measures evolving?
- How will Environment Delivery Plans be developed?
- Updates on the Nature Restoration Fund – protecting nature while supporting growth
Morning networking and refreshments
10:45 to
11:15
Panel discussion: Environmental assessment under transformation – future direction, opportunities and implications arising from planning reforms
11:15 to
12:00
- Is the proposed EOR system fit for purpose?
- What more is needed to simplify the existing system and reduce delays?
- Coordinating assessments with Environmental Delivery Plans – addressing environmental issues at a strategic level
- Will the new Nature Restoration Fund allow developers to meet environmental obligations faster?
Speakers:
Josh Fothergill.
Founder & Director.
Fothergill Training & Consulting.
Helena Gauterin.
Head of Environmental Law.
Office for Environmental Protection.
Sarah Drljaca.
Head of Stakeholder & Market Development - UK Consents.
Ørsted.
Embedding environmental studies into wider project planning – best approaches for integrating EIA with your consent strategy
12:00 to
12:25
- Developing a coordinated schedule for EIA that aligns with consenting timelines
- Identifying common areas of delays as you progress your schemes through the planning process
- How does conducting an EIA at an early stage influence project design and delivery?
Networking Lunch
12:25 to
13:25
Implementing biodiversity net gain for NSIPs – key insight and lessons learned ahead of May 2026 requirements
13:25 to
13:50
- The latest updates on the recent consultation – what is being proposed?
- Preparing a BNG delivery plan for major infrastructure - what needs to be done for designing a successful BNG strategy?
- What can developers do if 10% biodiversity net gain can’t be achieved? What are alternative options?
Speaker:
Nick Westerman.
Associate Director of Ecology - Water and Environment.
Jacobs.
Building climate resilience into your scheme by assessing climate change impacts and the most effective adaptation measures
13:50 to
14:15
- Evaluating the vulnerability of a project to climate change – considering flood risks and extreme weather events
- Identifying in-combination effects – understand how climate change will increase or diminish existent impacts of development
- Choosing the right adaptation responses to climate risks
- Exploring how your development might contribute to climate change
Speaker:
Katie McGregor.
Lead Consents and Environmental Project Manager.
National Grid.
Case Study: Delivering cumulative effects assessments as part of EIA – what works best?
14:15 to
14:40
- Examples of possible cumulative impacts – what are the different types?
- Ensuring coordinated mitigation approaches to reduce combined effects
- Facilitating data collection and sharing across the sector to better analyse cumulative impacts
Afternoon networking and refreshments
14:40 to
15:10
Panel discussion: Unlocking effective EIAs through stronger stakeholder engagement – overcoming barriers to building positive relationships
15:10 to
15:55
- Best practice for presenting preliminary information and findings to stakeholders
- Demonstrating how stakeholders input has been integrated into project design and decision-making
- Increasing collaboration to coordinate timelines and priorities for delivering EIA
- What is the impact of removing pre-application consultation requirements on environmental studies?
Speakers:
Louisa McKay.
National Infrastructure Account Manager.
Environment Agency.
Deborah Jeakins.
Manager, County Planning, Minerals and Waste.
Cambridgeshire County Council.
Effective digital scoping – leveraging new technologies to deliver a proportionate environmental assessment
15:55 to
16:20
- Scoping out potential impacts at the early stage by implementing predictive AI models
- How can data be collected and used effectively for delivering EIA?
- Streamlining the scoping process with digital solutions – potential applications
Chair’s closing remarks
16:20 to
16:30
Close of conference and networking drinks
16:30 to
17:30