From Promise to Delivery:
Land Use Reform

At the halfway point of this Parliament, this year’s Land Use Conference will take stock of the government’s progress on reform - and examine what more must be done to turn manifesto commitments into tangible outcomes before the next election. With land use policy central to unlocking housing supply, delivering major infrastructure, and meeting net zero targets, the conference will explore the extent to which reform is translating into real-world change on the ground.

We are delighted to announce Florence Eshalomi, Labour (Co-op) MP for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green, as our headline guest speaker.

Sessions will delve into some of the most pressing questions facing the sector:

• Is the current planning framework equipped to support growth while safeguarding environmental and community interests?
• Are proposed reforms to compulsory purchase and development consent regimes sufficient to accelerate delivery?
• How can competing demands such as housing need, biodiversity, climate resilience, and economic development be effectively balanced within an increasingly complex legal and policy landscape?
• Are the regulatory regimes for the private rented sector, long leasehold / commonhold home ownership working adequately?

Particular attention will be given to the practical challenges of implementation.

Landmark barristers will examine the gap between policy ambition and delivery, including issues around resourcing of local authorities, decision-making delays, legal risk, and the evolving role of the courts. The conference will also consider how recent and anticipated reforms may reshape the relationship between central government, local planning authorities, developers, and communities.

Drawing on the cross-disciplinary expertise of our barristers, the programme will combine high-level analysis with practical insight. Keynote talks will set the strategic context, while interactive breakout sessions will enable attendees to engage in focused, discussion-led exploration of issues across planning, property, public, and environmental law.

Designed for a broad professional audience, the conference is directly relevant to anyone working in the built environment - planning law, property law, and public law, as well as those operating at the intersection of these disciplines. As the next election approaches, it offers a critical opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved, identify what remains outstanding, and consider the legal and policy tools needed to move from promise to meaningful delivery in land use reform.