Registration and refreshments
08:45 to
09:30
Chair’s welcome and opening remarks
09:30 to
09:50
- What is the future of environmental assessments?
- Direction of travel for EIA - what do developers need to be aware of?
Speaker:
Dr Rufus Howard.
Impact Assessment and Sustainable Finance Policy Lead.
IEMA.
Panel Discussion: What are the factors influencing environmental assessments and the possible implications for projects in 2025?
09:50 to
10:35
- Finch vs Surrey County Council – what does the ruling mean for future schemes?
- What policy is needed to support the future of environmental assessments?
- Improving the existing EIA regime to support new projects
- Uncertainties facing assessments in 2025 and key solutions to overcome them
Speakers:
Estelle Dehon KC.
Cornerstone Barristers.
Josh Fothergill.
Founder & Director.
Fothergill Training & Consulting.
Duncan Smart.
Senior Planning & Environmental Policy Manager.
ScottishPower Renewables.
Morning networking and refreshments
10:35 to
11:05
Successfully conducting environmental assessments - meeting all requirements throughout the process
11:05 to
11:30
- Best practice for ensuring full compliance for your project
- Identifying key areas of risk
- The implications of onshore wind using the NSIP process
Speaker:
Rebecca Roffe.
Partner.
CMS.
Successfully ensuring proportionality – delivering a detailed but proportionate assessment without over-scoping
11:30 to
11:55
- Scoping correctly – identifying what is needed and what can be excluded
- Strengthening collaboration between stakeholders to create a more focused approach during scoping
Speaker:
Jane Cassidy.
Technical Director – Environmental Planning and Consents.
Arcadis.
Transitioning to digital EIA – employing digital tools to enhance efficiency and accessibility
11:55 to
12:20
- Developing a digital EIA
- Innovations for data collection and management – considering the potential of AI for environmental assessments
- Making information more accessible – effectively implementing digital reporting
Speakers:
Preeyus Patel.
Associate Director of Environmental and Sustainability.
AECOM.
Peter Hurley.
Senior Data Scientist.
AECOM.
Networking Lunch
12:20 to
13:20
Practical guidance for designing and implementing biodiversity net gain in development
13:20 to
13:50
- Planning and delivering a successful BNG proposal in parallel with EIA
- Maximising the potential of BNG by creating bespoke offset for your development
- Challenges that have emerged since the introduction of new requirements
Speaker:
Sophie Mairesse.
Ecologist and BNG Lead - Works Delivery Southern Region.
Network Rail.
Embedding social value – generating positive outcome for communities
13:50 to
14:20
- Where does social value fit within infrastructure projects?
- Integrating social impact methodologies into the EIA process
- Measuring the possible social value outcome of a scheme
Speakers:
Alex O’Byrne.
Partner.
Volterra.
Peta Donkin.
Director (EIA).
LDA Design.
Afternoon networking and refreshments
14:20 to
14:50
Case study: lessons learnt from successful projects
14:50 to
15:15
- Conducting EIA for large developments vs smaller schemes
- Identifying challenges faced during EIAs at an early stage
- Facilitating collaboration with multiple stakeholders involved in the process
Speaker:
Emanuele Stella.
Technical Director - Head of Offshore Renewables.
ITPEnergised part of SLR.
Identifying best mitigation practices – avoiding and minimising impacts of projects
15:15 to
15:40
- How to effectively implement the mitigation hierarchy
- Understanding what mitigation measures are more effective for your scheme
- Early integration of mitigation measure into design
- Mitigation approaches when considering cumulative effects
Speaker:
Anna-Maria Sexton.
UK & Europe Environmental and Social Discipline Lead – Hydrogen & CCS.
bp.
Monitoring impacts throughout project delivery to ensure environmental compliance
15:40 to
16:05
- Implementing feedback mechanisms - adapting and evaluating mitigation measures
- Preparing plans for addressing unexpected environmental impacts
- Maintaining open communication with stakeholders to ensure long-term monitoring
Speaker:
Duncan Smart.
Senior Planning & Environmental Policy Manager.
ScottishPower Renewables.
Chair’s closing remarks
16:05 to
16:15
Close of conference and networking drinks
16:15 to
17:30