Chair’s welcome and opening remarks
09:30 to
09:40
Speaker:
Dr Roisin Willmott OBE.
RTPI Director of Wales and Northern Ireland.
Royal Town Planning Institute.
Keynote address: Planning and Environment Decisions Wales – current planning priorities and guidance when submitting a project application
09:40 to
10:00
- Updates to Planning Inspectorate becoming Planning and Environment Decisions Wales
- Engaging with PEDW
- Requirements for DNS applications under current policy
- Important considerations prior to application submission
Speaker:
Tony Thickett.
Head of Planning and Environment Decisions Wales.
Planning and Environment Decisions Wales.
Part 1: How is current policy supporting infrastructure development? The introduction of Future Wales - its impact on planning and development and how it fits with existing policy
09:40 to
11:50
The impact of current policy and consenting regimes on infrastructure planning and development
10:00 to
10:20
- The relationship between different planning policy and consenting routes in Wales - Developments of National Significance, Future Wales and Planning Policy Wales 11
- What are the planning requirements for new infrastructure and how to meet these?
Speaker:
Liz Dunn.
Partner.
Burges Salmon.
Key issues in DNS decision-making for infrastructure and energy projects in Wales
10:20 to
10:40
- DNS – the statistics
- the key policies in Future Wales for decision-making on energy projects
- recent decisions and policy interpretation
Speaker:
Ben Lewis.
Infrastructure and Energy Director.
Barton Willmore.
Panel discussion: Planning for new infrastructure under the current system - how to practically deliver infrastructure and overcome current barriers
11:10 to
11:50
- What are the biggest challenges currently facing planning for new infrastructure and what are the solutions?
- Is current planning policy encouraging project development or are further changes needed?
- What types of infrastructure projects does Wales need in the future and how to encourage development?
- The role of renewables and how to support development
- Understanding the value of pre-assessed areas in Future Wales
Speakers:
Simon Chamberlayne.
Head of Planning.
Enso Energy.
David Thomas.
Energy Director.
Savills.
David Brown.
Associate Planner.
Arup.
Part 2: Overcoming current grid capacity challenges and how to improve time to secure a connection
11:50 to
12:50
Innovation in achieving grid connections and expanding the reach of the network
11:50 to
12:10
- Current innovations in delivering cheaper, faster connections to overcome grid capacity constraints
- Coping with demand from national infrastructure – what are the plans?
- Preparing for increased demand from local developments and electric vehicles
- Timeline on expansion and locations of the network
Speaker:
Rachel Shorney.
Stakeholder and Community Engagement Manager.
SP Energy Networks.
Panel discussion: What are the challenges facing network expansion? Projects and technology providing solutions to grid capacity constraints
12:10 to
12:50
- Battery storage solutions and possible use with solar farms and other schemes
- Are developers looking at creating private networks outside the grid? How can these be delivered?
- Difficulties associated with network expansion into mid-Wales
- Rethinking the issue: has the construction of new grid infrastructure slowed due to a reduction in the number of infrastructure projects being delivered?
Speakers:
Rachel Shorney.
Stakeholder and Community Engagement Manager.
SP Energy Networks.
Louise Jones.
Knowledge Transfer Manager – Energy Systems.
KTN.
Networking lunch and optional drop in session
12:50 to
13:50
Drop in session - Consenting "surgery" Q&A session with Liz Dunn and Ben Lewis - a chance to ask your questions regarding infrastructure consenting in Wales
Speakers:
Liz Dunn.
Partner.
Burges Salmon.
Ben Lewis.
Infrastructure and Energy Director.
Barton Willmore.
Part 3: Overcoming environmental challenges and meeting decarbonisation targets when planning new infrastructure
13:50 to
15:00
Engaging with Natural Resources Wales and the benefits of incorporating biodiversity requirements in your planning application
13:50 to
14:20
- Changing relationship throughout the application process – engagement and support at pre-application, application and post consent
- How and when to engage with Natural Resources Wales
- The requirements and importance of biodiversity under new planning policy
- Practically delivering positive biodiversity
Speaker:
Keith Davies.
Head of Sustainable Places Land and Sea.
Natural Resources Wales.
Panel discussion: What are the challenges to meeting updated decarbonisation targets while delivering new infrastructure? Practical guidance to achieving net zero
14:20 to
15:00
- Updated decarbonisation and net zero targets
- Main challenges to delivering infrastructure under these targets
- Building decarbonisation into infrastructure
- Innovation helping to achieve decarbonisation targets
- Different challenges facing different types of projects
Speakers:
Rhys Wyn Jones.
Director.
RenewableUK Cymru.
Eleri Davies.
Head of Wales – Onshore Wind Development.
RWE Renewables.
Jess Hooper.
Programme Manager.
Marine Energy Wales.
Ellie Brundrett.
Net Zero Project Manager.
Regen.
Part 4: Dealing with challenges to planning and delivery of infrastructure projects at a local level
15:00 to
15:20
Successfully engaging with communities and conducting consultation
15:00 to
15:20
- Participating in early engagement
- Presenting your project with the community
- Connecting with the community throughout the life cycle of the project
Speaker:
David Jones.
Stakeholder Manager.
Blue Gem Wind.