Unlocking Regional Potential: Planning, Housing & Digital Innovation in the North

The North West and Yorkshire are at the heart of the UK’s housing and regeneration ambitions. Greater Manchester is driving growth through its Places for Everyone plan and large-scale regeneration, while Yorkshire is accelerating delivery through city-region strategies and housing delivery partnerships.

From transforming brownfield sites to building new sustainable neighbourhoods, both regions are combining strategic planning with investment in infrastructure and innovation. Local authorities across the North West and Yorkshire are embracing data-driven approaches and digital planning to unlock land supply, streamline development, and strengthen collaboration with developers and investors. As housing demand continues to rise, these regions are well placed to demonstrate how regional coordination and technology can accelerate delivery and create more connected, affordable, and sustainable places to live.

This event will explore how digital tools and cross-sector partnerships are helping councils and industry deliver housing at scale and support long-term regional prosperity.

This half-day, CPD-accredited event is designed around one shared goal: to deliver more homes, faster, by aligning people, policy, and technology

• Gain regional insight into planning and housing delivery challenges.
• Learn from peer case studies and proven PropTech solutions.
• Participate in collaborative roundtables to shape practical next steps.
• Align with national housing and planning reform goals.

Agenda: 

13:30 – Arrival & Lunch

14:15 – Welcome & Opening Remarks 

Speakers: Sammy Pahal, Managing Director, UKPA, Joanna Averley, Chief Planner, MHCLG, Bridget Wilkins, Head of Adoption, Engagement and Innovation, MHCLG, and Bethan McCaw, Interim Delivery Team Director, GMCA

14:35 – Regional Leaders Panel

Open, perspective-led discussion on planning and housing delivery in the North.

Panel: Lucy Woodbine, Senior Principal Planning and Housing Research, GMCA, Phil Mayall, Managing Director, Muse, Ben Townsend, New Business Director NW, L&Q, and John Gregory, Partner, Weightmans

15:20 – Innovation Case Studies

This session will showcase four real-world examples of PropTech adoption that demonstrate measurable impact in planning, development, and housing delivery. Each PropTech company will present a short case study highlighting the challenge, solution, and outcomes achieved.

PropTech Companies 
• Digital Urban - case study with Wirral Borough Council
• PlaceChangers - case study with Gentoo Group
• SimAnalytica - case study with Thames Freeport
• LandTech - case study with Harworth Group 

15:40 – Break

16:00 – Roundtables

An interactive session where participants will reflect on insights from the earlier sessions, explore key challenges around plan making and developer contributions, and discuss how better collaboration and technology can improve regional delivery.

16:50 – Wrap Up & Closing Remarks

Speakers: Sammy Pahal, Managing Director, UKPA, Jen Hankinson, Partner, Weightmans 

17:00 – Networking Drinks

18:00 – Close

This is an invite-only event for senior local authority leaders and digital leaders involved in housing delivery and digital transformation, housing developers and associations, investors and innovators addressing planning and housing delivery challenges.

Spaces are limited and attendance is by invitation only. However, if you would like to register interest and request an invitation, please complete the form.