19 March 2026, 13:00-14:00 -
CIHT Webinar UNITED KINGDOM

CIHT Masterclass: Planning

Join us for an insightful lunchtime masterclass with Robert Singleton, Greg Haigh and Marco Picardi from the Department for Transport (DfT), as we explore how transport and spatial planners can use the DfT Connectivity Tool to unlock sustainable development opportunities.

CIHT is delighted to be joined by Robert Singleton, Head of Planning, Housing and Transport at the Department for Transport (DfT), discussing everything you need to know about DfT's new Connectivity Tool. The DfT Connectivity Tool helps planners understand how well a place connects people to jobs, services and everyday destinations. It uses national transport and land-use data to show how accessible a location is by walking, cycling, public transport and car helping identify truly sustainable places.

The Connectivity Tool is available to built environment professionals in the public or private sector. DfT have also made the Connectivity Tool Lite available to everyone, allowing anyone to explore the connectivity of their area, regardless of professional background. 

CIHT believes the Connectivity Tool has the potential to revolutionise the way we consider location in the planning process and place transport considerations at the heart of the way we consider locations for development. 

What You’ll Learn

  • Why connectivity matters: The key challenges in planning sustainable locations today, and how connectivity is currently defined and measured in practice.
  • Planning for the future: How planning can better support well-connected, sustainable places — and how simple, evidence-based tools can strengthen decision-making.
  • Live demo of the Connectivity Tool: A walkthrough of the tool itself, showing how to map sites and routes, explore connectivity scores, and apply the insights to real projects.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the session, you’ll understand:

  • How to use DfT’s connectivity metrics to identify sustainable locations
  • How connectivity data can shape spatial, transport and infrastructure planning
  • Practical ways to clearly communicate connectivity insights to clients, colleagues and decision-makers

Why attend? 

  • Free to CIHT Members 
  • Excellent CPD opportunity 
  • Explore the relationship between the transport and health sectors
  • Interactive Q&A with industry experts  

Who is this masterclass for? 

Whether you are a built environment professional or just interested in how location, transport and planning interact, this masterclass is an incredible opportunity to learn more. This masterclass is open to all CIHT members, CIHT partner employees, BCoE members and non-members. This masterclass is free for all CIHT and BCoE members to attend and is charged for CIHT Partner Employees and non-members.  

 

Speakers

Robert Singleton, FCIHT MRTPI: Head of Planning and Head of the Planning Professions, Department for Transport 

Robert Singleton is Head of Planning at the Department for Transport, where he leads work on integrating transport, land-use planning and sustainable connectivity. He plays a key role in developing national planning policy and national tools and evidence that help planners understand how well places connect people to jobs, services and everyday destinations.  Robert is the Head of the Spatial and Transport Planning Professions at DfT and its Arm’s Length Bodies creating the first Spatial, Transport and Environmental Planning Professionals (STEPP) network in Whitehall

     

     

     

Greg Haigh: Head of Data Science, Department for Transport

Greg has been a senior leader in government data science for a decade. He oversees development of the DfT’s Connectivity Model and serves as technical lead for the department’s Internal AI programme.

     

     

Marco Picardi, MRTPI: Deputy Head of Planning, Department for Transport 

Marco is a chartered town planner working as the Deputy Head of Planning at the Department for Transport. He works across the team’s projects, collaborating closely on infrastructure, environmental and planning policy with other government departments as well as the Department’s arms-length bodies. Marco is also a visiting lecturer on urban design at the Bartlett School of Planning, University College London, and previously worked for the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service and before that in the private sector.

   

   

Take action: Record your CPD  

CPD is defined as any activity that provides new knowledge or skills that help you to achieve your professional development goals or has otherwise helped you to develop as a highways and transportation professional.  

Plan, record and manage your CPD for free at CIHT Learn.  

Need help with getting the most out of your CPD access CIHT’s CPD Guidance here.  

Help & Support  

For more information, please contact conferences@ciht.org.uk     

19 March 2026, 13:00-14:00 -
CIHT Webinar UNITED KINGDOM

CIHT Masterclass: Planning


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