Our annual Planning Conference offers a full day of in-depth, practical learning on the latest developments in planning law, delivered by leading planning experts. This year’s programme will explore the latest legislative and policy changes and case law developments, with a specific focus on areas of particular relevance to local authority planning lawyers and officers.
The day will begin with a welcome from Rachel McKoy, LLG National Lead for Planning, Highways and Environment, followed by a session on the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), delivered by an expert in the field (speaker details to be confirmed). This will be followed by a presentation on the Environment Act 2021’s Environmental Principles and Local Government Decision Making, delivered by Toby Fisher, Barrister at Matrix Chambers.
Later in the programme, Tim Straker KC and Vivienne Sedgley, Barristers at 4-5 Grey’s Inn Chambers, will present on the new devolution agenda, focusing on practical implications for planning. This session will explore the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, including the creation of new Strategic Authorities, a Devolution Framework, Local Transport Plans, Local Transport Authorities, and proposed changes for the Greater London Authority.
Delegates will also benefit from a Case Law Update, presented by a barrister from Landmark Chambers (speaker details to be confirmed), followed by a session on Infrastructure Bill Changes led by Stuart Evans, Partner and Head of Planning at Anthony Collins, and Max Howarth, also from Anthony Collins.
One further session will be included, with the topic and speaker to be confirmed. The day will conclude with closing remarks from LLG's National Lead for Planning, Highways and Environment.
Each session will provide attendees with the opportunity to ask questions and share their thoughts and experiences. While the event will be held across one day, all sessions will be recorded and made available to download, allowing participants to engage fully on the day or attend selected sessions and catch up at their convenience.
Further details on the remaining topics and speakers will be made available in due course. The conference offers an ideal opportunity for planning lawyers, officers, and anyone working in a local authority planning team to stay up to date with the most important recent developments in planning law.
Vivienne sits on the Planning and Environment Law Bar Association (PEBA) Committee and is ranked as a leading junior in planning, local government and public law. Her recent work includes acting for the successful authority in Darwall v Dartmoor National Park Authority [2025] UKSC 20 concerning recreational rights on Dartmoor, R (Waverley BC) v Elstead Parish Council [2024] EWHC 833 (Admin) concerning difficulties with a neighbourhood planning referendum, and R (Newham LBC) v HMRC [2024] EWHC 2321 (Admin) concerning CIL for floating hotels. She is described in Chambers & Partners as “A remarkable junior whose star is in the ascendant”.
Timothy has twice been named planning/environmental silk of the year and has extensive experience of planning, major infrastructure, environment and procurement issues. He has and has acted for (and against) local authorities on many interesting and often high profile cases. He also sits as a deputy High Court judge in the Planning Court. He is described by the Legal 500 as “One of the elite, whom authorities instruct for definitive answers”.
Rachel is a commercial law specialist, with extensive experience acquired within local and central government. She is passionate about both championing the voices of our members and showcasing the breadth of complexity local government law offers through the work of LLG, as reflected by her former role as Chief Projects Assessor for the Diploma in Local Government Law and Practice (2016-19).
Rachel is currently Director of Legal & Governance (Monitoring Officer), London Borough of Newham.
Toby practices across all areas of public and international law, with particular expertise in environment and human rights. He acts for States, corporations, public bodies, NGOs and individuals.
He has acted at all levels in the UK domestic system up to the Supreme Court, as well as in cases before the International Court of Justice, European Court of Justice, European Court of Human Rights, and Inter-American Court of Human Rights. He has led communications to UN Treaty Bodies and complaints to the World Bank’s Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman.
Between 2019 and 2022, Toby was Deputy Director, International Law for the New Zealand Government, where he advised on international environmental law, international human rights and humanitarian law, counter terrorism, cyber, space, and law of the sea. He led negotiations at the UNFCCC climate change conferences, at the International Seabed Authority, and in other multilateral fora.
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09:00 - 16:00
Online
