Thrings’ Ros Trotman will assess the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and discuss the opportunities for small-to-medium-sized housing developments at the British Institute of Agricultural Consultants’ (BIAC) annual national rural planning conference this week.
Almost 200 BIAC members and other professionals serving the agricultural and rural community will gather at the Royal Berkshire Conference Centre in Reading on Thursday for the conference which will be attended by some of the country’s leading chartered surveyors, planners, solicitors, land agents, farmers, landowners and other rural professionals.
Associate solicitor Ros - who advises landowners, developers and housebuilders on development schemes and planning appeals – will run the rule over the Government's new planning policies, its relevance in planning decisions and what it could mean for the UK’s housing crisis.
She will highlight new national planning support for small-to-medium housing schemes, rural exception sites and entry-level exception sites in the context of the new definition of affordable housing, and changes relating to the regeneration of brownfield land.
Among those joining Ros on the speaker’s platform will be Simon Gallagher, planning director at MHCLG, Stuart Roberts, vice-president of the NFU, Hugh Ellis, chief planner at the Town and Country Planning Association, Andrew Thorley, regional director strategic land at Taylor Wimpey, and Karl Schneider, editor of Farmers Weekly.
The welcome and introduction to the one-day event – which is being attended by Thrings’ entire Planning team, including partner and head of planning, Alex Madden - will be given by chartered surveyor, BIAC council member and conference chairman, Barry Davies.
BIAC’s National Rural Planning Conference is being sponsored by Thrings for the sixth successive year. The event is being co-sponsored by Taylor Wimpey and supported by leading industry publications, Farmers Weekly and Planning.
Formed in 1957, BIAC is the professional association for consultants serving the agricultural and rural community. Its members – which include principals, partners, directors, employees and individuals - provide advice on matters concerning the ownership and occupation of land and rural businesses.
For more information about BIAC’s national rural planning conference, click here.