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24th November, 2022 : 10:30 am – 4:00 pm
The Westminster Government published the Levelling Up White Paper in February 2022, arguing that levelling up is a ‘moral, social and economic programme for the whole of government’. The White Paper set out policy ‘missions’, which will require commitment and collaboration. The reform of the English planning system is set to be taken forward in the context of delivering this agenda, against a backdrop of unexpected political and economic instability.
This conference will consider what levelling up means for place-making and place-shaping; whether the proposed interventions are the right ones; and what action at national and local levels will be needed to achieve the missions regarding improving people’s health and wellbeing and increasing people’s pride in place. We will hear from a wide range of perspectives including from government, the private sector and local authorities.
Session 1: Levelling up – what does it mean?
This session will provide an overview and update of levelling up agenda; consider whether there are potential gaps; and whether further interventions might be required.
| 10:00 | Registration and networking Tea and coffee available |
| 10:30 | Welcome and introduction from the chair Andrew Pritchard, Chair, TCPA |
| 10:35 | Overview of the Levelling Up agenda and ongoing planning reforms Joanna Averley, Chief Planner, Department of Levelling Up Housing & Communities |
| 10:50 | Q&A |
| 11:00 | A view on planning reform from the TCPA Hugh Ellis, Policy Director, TCPA |
| 11:10 | Q&A |
| 11:20 | Delivering levelling up in practice – Stoke on Trent Cllr Abi Brown, Leader, Stoke City Council |
| 11:35 | Delivering levelling up in practice – Thamesmead John Lewis, Executive Director Thamesmead, Peabody |
| 11:50 | Q&A and Discussion |
| 12:15 | Lunch and networking |
Session 2: Pride in place
This session will focus on the levelling up mission around ‘pride in place’, which seeks to secure an increase in measures such as people’s satisfaction with their town centre and engagement in local culture and community. The mission aims to secure improvements in every area of the UK, with the gap between top performing and other areas closing. The session will consider what is already happening to engage people at the local level and what could further help achieve progress towards this mission.
| 13:15 | Welcome back from the chair Catriona Riddell, Vice Chair, TCPA |
| 13:20 | Panel: Pride in place – what does it mean and how do we achieve the mission? • Indy Johar, Executive Director, Dark Matter Labs • Jonathan Owen, National Association of Local Councils • Sarah Scannell, Assistant Director Planning, Birmingham City Council |
| 14:05 | Engaging communities in place-making Nicola Rochfort, Senior Community Engagement Manager, Grosvenor |
| 14:20 | Q&A |
| 14:30 | Tea, coffee and networking |
Session 3: Health and well-being
This third and final session of the day will draw on the two health and wellbeing missions, which seek to narrow the gap in healthy life expectancy and improve wellbeing in every area of the UK. It will consider the importance of place in achieving those aspirations and explore what is already being done, and what more needs to be done to secure improvements.
| 15:00 | Welcome from the Chair Andrew Pritchard, Chair, TCPA |
| 15:05 | Why places matter to health Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England |
| 15:15 | Responses: • Trina Lynskey, Chair of Deptford Folk parks group • Lucy Carraz, Government Sector Lead – AECOM Buildings + Places, UK & Ireland • Lourdes Madigasekera-Elliott, Public Health Strategic Lead: Creating Healthy Places, Public Health East Sussex |
| 15:35 | Q&A |
| 15:55 | Closing remarks |
| 16:00 | Close |
The TCPA is grateful to Peabody, Grosvenor and AECOM for their support of this event.
Photo by Nathan J Hilton
