CIHT will join national policy leaders, planning and transport professionals, developers and legal experts to speak at the Transport Development Conference, which is being held at the Regent's Park Conference Centre on Thursday 4th December. 

The one-day conference will ask “Can the practicalities of vision-led planning deliver real change – and how?” The conference will feature a mix of keynote talks, real-world case studies, interactive panels and 'Ask the Experts' forums which will explore the practical reality of delivering sustainable, well-connected developments within the revised planning framework. 

During the morning session, CIHT Past President Shiela Holden OBE will deliver a presentation on why we cannot continue to do what we've done in the past and will then be joined by David Milner (Managing Director, Create Streets), Robert Pellow (Policy Advisor, CIHT), Joely Hill (Associate Transport Planner, WSP in the UK and Board Director, Transport Planning Society) for a panel discussion chaired by Mike Axon, Global Director of Transport, SLR.  

CIHT has been a leading voice in calls to a shift to away from decide and provide planning towards a vision-led approach since the publication of Better Planning, Better Transport, Better Places (2019). With the introduction of vision-led planning to the revised National Planning Policy Framework in 2024, and the Government set target of 1.5 million new homes by 2029, Transport Development Conference will gather leading sector stakeholders to discuss how to make the most of current opportunities and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.  

In October 2025, CIHT published an article assessing some of the changes to the planning system since the original publication of Better Planning, Better Transport, Better Places and highlighting the importance of effective land use.   

CIHT members can read the article to find out more about the UK government's planning reform programme and what experts from CIHT's membership believe is still needed to ensure the planning system delivers better transport outcomes. With topics ranging from new towns, land use and the role of local authorities, this article covers a range of key planning issues faced by the sector.   

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